THE new West Mercia Probation Area, which includes Worcestershire, is already out-performing its predecessor services in almost all performance indicators.

The business plan for 2002-03 says members are committed to maintaining the impetus in the new financial year. Within the £9.179 million budget, the board has set out its priorities which include programmes for offenders that will work in the most effective and efficient manner.

The report explains that area teams have to identify offenders for the programmes, facilitate their attendance, including working with their motivation and re-integrate them back into communities afterwards.

West Mercia says the great strength of the new governance arrangements for the probation service is the integration of a national lead on what it should be doing, with a strong local board and management determining how it should be done.