Concerns raised about probation services in Kent, Surrey and Sussex failing to share crucial information
Chief Inspector’s report calls for more training for probation officers and better information-sharing with police
A report into the probation service in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex has revealed issues with how information about risks posed by dangerous individuals is shared with police and other agencies.
Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones, who led the November 2025 inspection, described concerns about staff shortages and gaps in workers' ability to assess risks effectively. The findings come from the first review under the new Dynamic Inspection of Public Protection programme by HM Inspectorate of Probation.
Public protection measures fell short of required standards in more than half of the cases reviewed, particularly in areas such as assessment and implementation. Communication gaps between police, social services, and probation were highlighted as a major obstacle in managing risks effectively.
What the inspection found
The inspection examined 56 cases and flagged a consistent lack of quality in risk management. According to CI Martin Jones, essential information, such as police reports related to domestic abuse, was often not shared adequately with probation officers, making it harder to assess risks or take preventative action.
CI Jones said: “The probation service as a whole does not understand enough about the risk of the people that they're managing. And unfortunately, what that means in most circumstances is a risk of women, girls, children suffering violence at the hands of a man being managed on probation.”
Staff shortages further exacerbated the challenges in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, with just two-thirds of the required probation officers in place during the time of inspection.
Efforts to improve
While the report recognised some progress since an earlier inspection in May 2024, significant improvements are still needed.
CI Jones credited regional leaders for innovative approaches, such as the use of artificial intelligence and technology to address resource gaps and streamline processes. He stressed that these strategies were steps in the right direction.
The inspection report also made five recommendations, including two specific to the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex region. These focused on enhancing probation officer training to improve risk assessment and case management. On a national level, the Inspectorate urged the development of a strategic approach to information sharing with police and children’s services.
Wider implications
CI Jones has expressed concerns over risks to women’s safety, particularly from perpetrators of domestic or sexual abuse who are inadequately managed.
He acknowledged that serious offences committed by individuals under probation supervision are rare but emphasised the need for vigilance to prevent harm wherever possible.
"If a probation service is able to do its job well, the public are safer for the long term," Jones said, adding that he valued the government’s investment in probation services and its efforts to recruit more officers and enhance resources.