Suffolk and Norfolk Probation Merger Plans
Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Areas have been given the go-ahead to merge and become a joint probation trust.
The two probation services – which both have the top “Green Star” rating in national performance charts - will start operating as a joint trust from April 2010, providing probation services to both counties.
The full merger between the two organisations is expected to take up to three years.
All probation boards in England and Wales must apply to become probation trusts. The boards of Norfolk and Suffolk decided they could most successfully achieve trust status by joining forces and submitting a joint application to the National Offender Management Service.
Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Areas already have much in common, with similarities in size, structure, culture and levels of performance. The exact shape of the merged organisation will be worked out over the next few months.
As the two organisations merge, some posts will be lost, however frontline operational jobs will be protected as much as possible.
John Budd, Suffolk Probation Area Chief Officer said:
“I am pleased that our application to become a joint trust has been successful. Although we have already undertaken preliminary work to merge, we can now get going in earnest.
“I would like to reassure the public that we will continue to provide excellent probation services to the offenders, courts, communities, prisons and victims of Norfolk and Suffolk
“By joining forces we can take what is best from both organisations and apply it in both counties.
“In the meantime we will continue to work hard to protect the public and reduce re-offending.”
