A PROBATION unit which covers the Bradford district has been rated ‘inadequate’ by a watchdog.

A report released by HM Inspectorate of Probation on the Bradford and Calderdale Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) found it was operating in a “chaotic state”.

Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation, warned it will be a “sizeable task” to get the PDU where it needs to be.

It was rated ‘inadequate’ overall as well as in leadership, staffing, assessment, planning, implementation, and delivery and reviewing.

Services were judged as ‘requires improvement’.

It was the first inspection of the unit since it was established following the unification of probation services – PDUs replaced community rehabilitation companies and the national probation service, which merged in 2021.

It is one of 11 in Yorkshire and the Humber, and the second largest in the region.

Mr Jones said there were a “number of deficits” around culture, morale and high sickness levels.

He said the underlying issues were “long-standing and had been neglected for too long” and warned urgent action was needed.

“Bradford and Calderdale PDU is operating in a chaotic state and staff are finding it to be an increasingly difficult place to work,” he added.

“Leaders need to take urgent action to ensure the PDU can deliver better results for staff and people on probation, and protect the local community.

“The inspection found work to keep others safe to be poor and improvements needed to be made to protect actual and potential victims from harm.

“Efforts to involve other agencies to minimise this risk were also poorly co-ordinated.

“Safeguarding information was received too infrequently and, when it was received, was not being used to sufficiently inform risk assessments."

Mr Jones added: “It will be a sizeable task to get Bradford and Calderdale PDU to where it needs to be, and they will need support from beyond the PDU to achieve this.”

The report makes several recommendations to improve the culture across the PDU, to address divisions between teams, and to improve the quality of work to assess, plan for and manage risk of harm.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis which has put a huge strain on the probation service.

“We are gripping the situation and supporting our hard-working staff by improving training and recruiting 1,000 new probation officers nationally to better deliver robust supervision and protect the public.”