The Probation Service in London is struggling with one in three probation officer posts unfilled, inspectors have found.
Martin Jones, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, led a review of public protection work in the capital. It found problems in every part of case management, from assessment and planning to delivery and review. The report said: “These weaknesses were systemic and reflected broader issues in workforce capability, confidence and capacity”.
Staffing numbers were improving, the report said, but significant gaps remained. The vacancy rate at probation officer grade stood at 33 per cent.
Across London, 2,449 probation staff were managing 37,195 people. Some were in prison. Others were under supervision in the community, including people released on licence and people serving community sentences.
Inspectors said workforce capability was one of the biggest factors affecting public protection. Leaders repeatedly described inexperienced staff handling ever more complex caseloads. High turnover, high vacancy rates and the loss of experienced practitioners had drained expertise and confidence.
Recruitment and retention remained hard, especially at probation officer grade. Persistent vacancies added to workloads and unsettled teams. Long vetting and pre-employment checks slowed the filling of posts, and some candidates withdrew before starting.
The report found that leaders showed a strong commitment to better practice, backed by well-developed systems for performance management and learning. Even so, the quality of practice remained inconsistent. The report added: “Inspectors did not find enough evidence that these strategic improvements had translated into consistent outcomes in front-line delivery”.
The Probation Service has faced growing attention over the Sentencing Act 2026. The Act will lead to thousands of people leaving prison early and coming under probation supervision.
Two further public protection reviews by HM Inspectorate of Probation reached more positive findings.
On the North East of England, Mr Jones said: “Leaders and staff should be proud of the progress they are making”. He said the region had built on solid structures to strengthen its public protection practice. Work remained, but staff should feel optimistic, he added.
In Wales, he said a “sustained focus is essential” to raise the quality of public protection work. He praised the service for “strong leadership and having a coherent vision for improvement”. The Inspectorate last inspected the Wales region in 2025. Since then, he said, leaders had moved quickly to bring in a wide-ranging programme of change to strengthen the work that keeps people safe.
