Probation officers in England and Wales are facing excessive workloads and burnout, prompting concerns that public safety is being compromised, according to the union representing probation and family court staff. Napo declared it has “no confidence” in probation service management and is threatening industrial action within three months unless there is increased support and better pay for its members.

The union’s warning comes as the government prepares to significantly expand the use of electronic tagging this autumn. Starting in September, the number of former offenders monitored by tags is expected to rise to 40,000, a 40% increase from the current 28,000. This expansion is part of a broader effort to reduce pressure on the criminal justice system by releasing and overseeing more offenders in the community.

Napo’s concerns are supported by recent reports highlighting systemic staffing shortages and operational challenges within the probation service. A watchdog last year noted that the service suffers from insufficient staffing levels and a lack of experienced, properly trained officers, which raises risks for the public. The Public Accounts Committee found officers working at 126% of capacity for several years in some areas, contributing to what it described as “excessive and unmanageable workloads.”

Tania Bassett, a national official for Napo, said the increasing number of individuals requiring supervision has overwhelmed probation officers, resulting in some former offenders ending up homeless and more likely to reoffend. She also criticized management plans to remove a workload measurement tool, arguing that this would obscure the extent of officers’ burdens and prevent them from demonstrating the scale of their overwork.

Data from the National Audit Office shows that the prison service met only 26% of its targets for timely appointments and service delivery in 2024-25, a decline from 50% in 2022. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reported that 31% of scheduled probation appointments were missed between 2023 and 2025.

In response, the MoJ announced plans to recruit 1,300 additional probation officers over the next year, backed by a £700 million investment program through 2029. This funding includes £100 million allocated to support the tagging expansion. The department also plans to pilot a £5 million project testing proximity monitoring technology for domestic abusers and stalkers.

Napo’s executive committee passed a motion stating that without addressing ongoing high vacancy rates, sickness absence, and the removal of workload measurement tools, the current situation is “untenable.” The motion accused HM Prison and Probation Service leadership of failing in its duty of care toward probation staff and jeopardizing both staff welfare and public safety.

Prisons Minister James Timpson recently acknowledged in parliament that the probation service is “running too hot,” revealing that each officer was managing an average of 32 ex-offenders, underscoring the scale of the workload crisis facing the service.