EditorSwansea and Neath Port Talbot probation service told it is failing to keep the public safe
Watchdog finds “weakest area of practice” in public protection
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation said that while the Swansea Neath Port Talbot Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) had “strong, impressive leadership” and a positive culture for staff, its work to keep people safe was the weakest area of practice.
Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones said:
“We found evidence of strong, impressive leadership, and a commitment to staff wellbeing and development, but as we see so often, work to keep people safe was insufficient.”
The inspection found that probation staff did not always gather or use vital information from police or social services, leaving victims and children at risk. Management oversight was described as ineffective, and casework on assessing and managing risk was rated “inadequate”.
Progress since 2022, but still major gaps
The PDU, which manages more than 2,000 people on probation across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, was previously rated “inadequate” in 2022. Inspectors acknowledged progress since then, praising innovative projects, specialist women’s services and strong partnerships with local providers.
But despite these improvements, inspectors said too many cases showed poor risk management. In some instances, probation staff received information about potential harm but failed to follow it up.
What inspectors say needs to change
Inspectors warned that probation officers in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot are still not doing enough to protect victims of crime or the wider public. Too often, crucial information from police or social services was not being gathered or acted upon, leaving children and partners at risk.
Managers were told they must tighten up oversight so that frontline staff are properly challenged and supported when dealing with risky cases. Practitioners also need clearer guidance on when to carry out domestic abuse checks with police, after inspectors found inconsistent practice.
The report said probation staff should be more confident in asking difficult questions and showing “professional curiosity” when warning signs appear, rather than taking information at face value. Leaders were also urged to carry out a skills audit of their workforce, to identify gaps in knowledge and provide targeted training.
In short, the Inspectorate concluded that while the service has strong leadership and innovative projects in place, it must now translate that into day‑to‑day practice that keeps people safe.
At a glance: what inspectors found
Overall rating: Requires improvement
What worked well: Strong leadership, positive staff culture, and innovative local projects (including specialist women’s services and co‑located support providers).
Where it fell short: Casework on assessing, planning and reviewing risk was judged inadequate. Staff did not always gather or act on vital information from police or social services, leaving victims and children at risk.
Why it matters: Weak public protection work means probation officers may miss warning signs of domestic abuse or other risks, undermining efforts to keep communities safe.
What must change: Tighter management oversight, clearer guidance on domestic abuse checks, and training that builds confidence in professional curiosity and challenging risky behaviour.
National spotlight on probation safety
The failings in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot mirror concerns across England and Wales. From this month, the Inspectorate is launching a six‑month national inspection of public protection across all twelve probation regions, pausing its normal programme to focus solely on how well probation services are keeping people safe.
Mr Jones said he believed the local service had “the necessary measures in place to achieve high‑quality service delivery” but warned that further work was needed to protect the public.
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