The government's flagship scheme for monitoring dangerous criminals after their release is failing and requires a complete overhaul, the probation watchdog has declared in a damning report.
In a stark warning to the Ministry of Justice, Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones condemned the 'intensive supervision' programme for offenders serving the now-abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. The report reveals a system in crisis, with a 'worrying lack of progress' since its inception.
Systemic Failures and Public Risk
The investigation uncovered critical weaknesses at every level. Probation officers, often carrying excessive caseloads, are failing to properly assess the risks posed by these offenders. The report highlights a lack of specialised training and a 'tick-box' culture that prioritises paperwork over genuine risk management.
Perhaps most alarmingly, the watchdog found that many of these high-risk individuals are not receiving the vital mental health support and substance abuse treatment they were promised, significantly increasing the potential for reoffending.
The Legacy of IPP Sentences
The controversy stems from the IPP sentence, introduced in 2005 and scrapped in 2012 after being deemed unlawful. However, the ruling was not applied retroactively, leaving nearly 3,000 offenders still under licence, trapped in a cycle of recall to prison for minor breaches rather than new crimes.
This group remains one of the most challenging for the probation service to manage, with disproportionately high rates of self-harm and mental health issues.
A Call for Immediate Action
The Inspectorate has issued a series of urgent recommendations, demanding the Ministry of Justice and probation service create a new, national strategy specifically for IPP offenders. This strategy must include mandatory specialist training, improved access to psychological services, and a move away from recalling individuals for technical breaches unless absolutely necessary.
The report serves as a critical test for the government's promise to improve public protection and fix a broken probation system. The watchdog has given officials a strict deadline to formulate an action plan, signalling that patience has run out and immediate, concrete steps are now required.
