ALT Dynamic inspection of public protection in Wales. A quote from HM Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones CBE, “Overall, while the region was moving in the right direction, the quality of public protection work was not yet consistently good enough. Sufficient time and emphasis were now needed to embed changes, strengthen analytical practice, and improve information sharing. A sustained focus on these areas would be essential if the region was to realise its ambition of delivering consistently high-quality work to keep people safe.”

ALT Dynamic Inspection of Public Protection in Wales. Context: The Wales region of the Probation Service covers six Probation Delivery Units (PDUs), Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Dyfed Powys, Swansea Neath Port Talbot, Cardiff and the Vale, Gwent, and North Wales. Fifty-five cases were inspected where the Inspectorate examined assessment, planning, implementation and delivery, and reviewing, all through the lens of public protection work. At the time of the inspection announcement, the region supervised 10,686 people in the community or in custody.

ALT Findings: Planning was a clear strength in practice, reflecting the sustained and targeted activity which had started before the previous inspection in 2025. Revised offender assessment system briefings had supported practitioners to produce more focused and strategic risk management plans. While most cases demonstrated an appropriate overall risk classification, there were persistent weaknesses in analytical depth. Domestic abuse histories were not always explored fully, and practitioners did not consistently link behaviour to the impact on children or recognise patterns across cases. Staffing levels across the region were stable overall, however workloads continued to be adversely affected by vacancies.

ALT Research themes Desistance

ALT Desistance. 1. Focus on destigmatisation and de-labelling 2. Celebrate achievements of reintegration 3. Identify role models and pay attention to success stories. Professor Shadd Maruna Queen’s University Belfast

ALT "Even though we think about desistance as journey that each person has to go on, people don’t go on that journey alone and we find in the lives of a successful desistor, there are always mentors and role models." Professor Shadd Maruna