To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers were employed in (a) 1996 and (b) 2006; how many support staff they had in each year; how many clients were on probation in each year; and how many of those on probation were prisoners on release who had been convicted of crimes against the person in each year. (101398)

As at 31 December 1996, the total number of offenders being supervised by the Probation Service was 170,852. Of these 3,922 were offenders released from prison who had been convicted of violence against the person offences.

As at 31 December 2005 (latest published data) the total number of offenders being supervised by the Probation Service was 224,094. Of these 5,098 were offenders released from prison who had been convicted of violence against the person offences.

To align with the information provided on offenders, as at 31 December 2005 the number of staff in post was:

Due to the process by which information was collated prior to 2003, we do not have the requested information for 1996.