2010 press releases

15th Jan: Norman Baker slams lack of funding for Sussex probation services

Local MP Norman Baker has attacked the government for failing to provide sufficient funding for probation services in Sussex. The number of probation staff employed in the area has remained static since 2004, meaning that there are now fewer members of staff per offender than in previous years.

In 2008, there were a total of 403 probation service staff employed in Sussex, the same number as in 2005. However, the ratio of offenders to members of staff increased from 11.2 to 13.7 in this time - meaning that the workload of most probation staff has increased by 22% in just three years.

The vast majority of other areas within the South East have seen an increase in probation staff over the same period. Thames Valley, for example, has benefited from an additional 45 staff, while Hampshire and Surrey have gained and additional 51 staff between them.

Norman Baker commented:

"These figures make it very clear that the probation services in Sussex are underfunded and increasingly overstretched. We need additional funding to ensure that the probation service is able to work effectively to keep Sussex safe.

"Since 2004, the number of Probation Officers has increased by 7.3% nationwide, which only serves to reinforce the message that Sussex is losing out.

"In each of the past five years, Sussex has had the highest ratio of offenders to probation staff of any county in the South East. The government must redress this balance for the benefit of people throughout the Lewes area."

The Parliamentary Question which revealed the information, and which contains a breakdown of the number of staff, and ratio of offenders to staff throughout the South East in each of the past five years, can be reached at They Work For You.

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