Local Futures for Probation: Research, Practice, and Policy in Wales, 2026

A conference report bringing together key contributions from - Local Futures for Probation: Research, Practice, and Policy in Wales – a symposium hosted by the Research Institute for Policy and Practice, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Swansea University on Friday 6 March 2026.

Local Futures for Probation

 

Grand Avenues

Grand Avenues Exec summary 2026

Grand Avenues Exec summary 2026 Cymraeg

Grand Avenues Report 2026

Re-imagining Probation in the Community: An evaluation of Grand Avenues

Grand Avenues was established by HMPPS to create a project in which men on Probation were supervised by the Probation Service in the communities in which they lived in the Cardiff wards of Caerau and Ely. It works with other service providers to improve the experiences, community connectivity and rehabilitation of the men. The University of South Wales conducted a process evaluation which looked at the experiences of the men under supervision, Probation Officers, commissioned partners, and  HMPPS staff who were involved in its development and operation. The report notes that GA is a positive and worthwhile initiative which is still developing and considers how it might be improved and replicated.

 

Wales Probation Development Group

WPDG Briefing Note October 2025.pdf

Cymraeg WPDG Briefing Note Oct 2025.pdf

Inspection Consultation WPDG Response May 2026

 

The Wales Probation Development Group (WPDG) welcome the publication this week of the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee report Jagged Justice: Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation in Wales, which highlights critical challenges around the relatively high imprisonment and recall rate in Wales, and adds to calls for the UK Government to consider benefits of devolved and localised probation delivery. WPDG have prepared a written response to the report and the group’s Convenor Ella Rabaiotti, gave her reflections to the BBC Wales ‘WalesCast’ podcast.

Response to Welsh Affairs Committee report June 2026

 

Justice Committee Inquiry into Rehabilitation and Resettlement

Submission from Prof. Peter Raynor and Prof. Mike Maguire to the UK cross-party Justice Committee's inquiry into Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending. Submitted January 2025.

Justice Committee 1 - England Wales 2025.pdf

 

Independent Sentencing Review 2024 to 2025

Papers from Wales Probation Development Group members responding to the call for evidence to the Ministry of Justice Independent Sentencing Review 2024 to 2025, led by the Rt Hon David Gauke. Submitted January 2025.

Deering-submission.pdf

Fox-submission.pdf

McConnell-submission.pdf

Rabaiotti-submission.pdf

Raynor-submission.pdf