Working With Us 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE HEATHER MUNRO

Leicestershire and Rutland is recognised as a top Probation performer.We are making a real difference to people’s lives as we work with them to change their offending behaviour. Probation is helping to make our local communities safer.

In 2009 Leicestershire and Rutland was confirmed in its trust status. As a trust we operate under a contract with the regional Director of Offender Management, who specifies the services to be delivered and how much money we will receive to supply them.

The services provided by Probation involve working with other criminal justice agencies, local government, the private and third sectors and voluntary organisations.

These are testing times with budget constraints, but we are seeking to meet the challenges ahead by adopting new innovative ways of working.

We have been successful in our bid to the European Social Fund to deliver Employment, Training and Education for offenders in the East Midlands’ Probation Areas and in some of the prisons in the region.

We have established a partnership with the local Social Enterprise, STRIDE, to run our Learning Café at the Cobden Street Probation Centre. A trained chef works with selected offenders to enable them to achieve catering qualifications, while providing meals for offenders and Probation staff. 

National research reveals that when out-of-work offenders find meaningful paid employment, the risk that they will commit further crimes is reduced. Part of our role is to support the rehabilitation of offenders back into their home communities.

The local Criminal Justice Drug Team has formed a Peer Mentor Group. We have trained ex-offenders to work as volunteer mentors with men and women who are currently on supervision. They are helping current service users to remain motivated to complete their orders and reduce their substance abuse. The mentors have acquired new skills as a result of this work. Through a scheme with NHS Leicester and Leicestershire, the Probation Trust is employing former offenders to work as health trainers to encourage men and women under Probation supervision to adopt a healthier lifestyle as part of their community order.

These are very exciting times for us.