About GMPA

The National Probation Service for England and Wales is made up of 42 Probation Areas, which share Police and Local Authority boundaries. Greater Manchester is the third largest, covering 1,287 square kilometres and serving around 2.5 million people from a wide range of social backgrounds - ethnic minorities form 9% of the population (approximately 220,000 people).

The Greater Manchester Probation Board aims to enforce community punishments effectively, reduce re-offending, and protect the public by managing offenders in the community - at any one time we are responsible for supervising around 16,000. Each year we provide some 15,000 court reports to help judges and magistrates determine the most appropriate sentence for convicted offenders.

We employ about 1,500 staff in field teams, courts, prisons, approved premises and at our Head Office. Field teams are based in 10 districts which share Local Authority boundaries - Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, Stockport, Trafford, Salford and Manchester City. Our 2006/7 budget is £46m.

We provide local accountability within the National Probation Service. The Board comprises a chair, a Chief Officer and 10 members. Its main function is to ensure that Greater Manchester meets the objectives of the National Probation Service, uses its resources effectively and delivers a service that responds to the needs of the community.