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Barry Probation Office

Volume 400: debated on Monday 24 February 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Barry probation office; and if he will make a statement. [98778]

To date I have had no representations specific to the Barry Probation Office, though there have been local stakeholder discussions and I have received representations more generally on the property strategy of the South Wales Probation Board.The decision to close the main probation office in Barry, and relocate staff to Cardiff, was made by the local employer, the South Wales Probation Board. This decision was made in the wider context of improving effectiveness in dealing with offenders. The Board's strategy is to release resources to redirect into staff, particularly new staff to deliver successful Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and to introduce the more effective "enhanced community punishment".Better targeting of public funds is an important aspect of improving public protection and reducing re-offending. The decision to double the planned number of DTTOs over the next two years underpins the success of their approach.