Senior managers at Hertfordshire Probation recently met Broxbourne Borough Council's Chief Executive, Mike Walker, to explore opportunities for developing services in respect of offenders on community orders.

The initiative is part of a change of focus for Probation brought about by a change in status - the organisation becomes Hertfordshire Probation Trust on 1 April, giving it greater freedom to work beyond its statutory framework.

Hertfordshire Probation's Chief Officer, Tessa Webb, met Mike Walker, accompanied by Hertfordshire Probation's Local Delivery Unit Leader, Lisa Riccardi.

Tessa said:  "The range of services we undertake with offenders and victims is wide and often not well understood and improving knowledge and understanding about our work with our local communities is an area we are keen to improve on and pursue in 2010/11.

"Discussion with Broxbourne Borough Council is at an early stage but there is a keenness on both sides to explore how collaborative working can improve the effectiveness of services that tackle reoffending. Already there have been a significant number of jointly planned Community Payback projects in Broxbourne which have brought benefits to local communities and we are keen to build upon this."