The probation service that monitors thousands of offenders across Cumbria has much to do to improve the quality of its work, according to a new Government report.

HM Inspectorate of Probation has given Cumbria and Lancashire Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) an overall ‘requires improvement’ rating.

The CRC supervises more than 5,500 low and medium-risk offenders; some are preparing to leave or have left prison, while others are serving community or suspended sentences.

Inspectors found good leaders at the CRC and clear policies, procedures, strategy and purpose are in place. Probation staff were also overwhelmingly positive about their roles.

They also found that the CRC runs a good suite of accredited programmes to support people to turn away from a life of criminality.

Despite this, inspectors found the overall quality of probation supervision was not good enough.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Dame Glenys Stacey said: “Our inspection found poor practices that frequently failed to tackle offending or protect the public.

“Greater attention should have been paid to protecting actual and potential victims.

“This was particularly concerning in cases that involved domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns for children and adults. Where a member of staff should have conducted a home visit to assess and manage potential risks, we found only a third had been completed.”

The CRC is one of six owned by Sodexo, a multi-national private company.

Trevor Shortt, director of operations of community at Sodexo said: “The overall rating of ‘requires improvement’ is in line with the majority of other CRCs across the country.

“HMIP’s previous inspection in 2017 concluded that the Cumbria and Lancashire CRC was delivering some of the best work in the country.

“We have further invested in and developed the CRC since then and do not recognise the organisation described by the inspectorate in this report. Reducing re-offending and protecting the public remain our key priorities.

“We will be responding in full to the inspector on the recommendations made in due course.”