NOMS does not produce statistics on the average case load of probation staff. However, data are collected on the number of offenders supervised by the probation service and, separately, on the number of staff in post.
The total number of offenders supervised by the probation service on 31 March 2007 was 237,796. On 31 December 2007 it was 242,722.
This information is taken from the Probation Statistics Quarterly Brief, which can be found at the following website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/probationquarterly.htm
No projections of case load are available. However, projections for the number of order and licence starts have been made. These are set out as follows:
Community order and suspended sentence order Licence supervision 2008-09 197,500 46,200 2009-10 203,400 47,600 2010-11 209,500 49,000
The number of probation service staff in post for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out as follows. Data for the quarter ending 31 March 2008 are not yet available as they are still being validated. No projections of staff in post are available.
Q1 Q2 Q3 2007-081 30 June 2007 30 September 2007 31 December 2007 Probation officers2 8,038.95 7,973.80 8,257.54 Probation services officers3 6,280.56 6,304.56 6,221.76 Other staff 6,549.83 6,388.08 6,415.04 Total 20,869.34 20,666.44 20,894.34
2006-071 30 June 2006 30 September 2006 31 December 2006 31 March 2007 Probation officers 8,083.97 8,064.97 8,343.64 8,265.35 Probation services officers 6,645.30 6,552.00 6,502.71 6,506.78 Other staff 6,309.82 6,531.73 6,524.63 6,473.53 Total 21,039.09 21,148.70 21,370.98 21,245.66 1 Figures provided are full-time equivalent. Figures for Quarter 3 2007-08 have yet to be published and may be subject to minor amendment upon publication. Figures for Quarter 4 2007-08 are unavailable as they currently being validated. 2 Includes senior practitioners, probation officers, practice development assessors, trainee probation officers and senior probation officers. 3 Includes probation services officers and treatment managers.