Northumbria Probation Area works to protect the public, reduce reoffending, support victims and rehabilitate offenders.

We supervise adult offenders serving community orders and released from prison on licence.

Whilst offenders are under supervision, the probation service undertakes structured work to ensure their proper punishment and to reduce the likelihood of their re-offending.

This can include:

• unpaid work
• offending behaviour programmes
• one to one work with a probation officer
• treatment for substance abuse and support in achieving life skills such as basic numeracy and literacy
• accommodation and employment

Some of these interventions are delivered directly by the probation service, others in partnership with voluntary and private sector organisations.

Northumbria Probation Area plays an active role in the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). This is a multi-agency approach where probation, police, prisons and other agencies work closely together to protect the public from risk posed by violent and sexual offenders who are lawfully residing in the community.

Northumbria Probation Area is one of 42 areas within the National Probation Service covering the county of Northumberland and the metropolitan districts of Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Wearside. It is the largest probation area in the North East Region, supervising an average of 7000 offenders at any given time and employs approximately 700 staff.

We have 20 community supervision teams around the Northumbria Area, where offenders are supervised on a day to day basis.

Staff will also engage with offenders in groupwork sessions, offender behaviour programme delivery, probation hostels (approved premises), unpaid work, in court and prisons.  Direct work with offenders is supported and enhanced by a range of other staff including admin and specialist support services at head office.