Twenty two senior officials from the Chinese judicial system visited Hertfordshire Probation Trust on Tuesday 6 July to find out how convicted criminals are managed in the community.

China's version of Probation, called Community Correction, is just ten years old, so the officials, led by Mr Gang Li, Deputy Director General of China's Institute for Justice Adminstration, were keen to learn what the British do with offenders on community sentences and those released on licence from prison.

They were also seeking to establish links between justice professionals in both countries to enable future exchanges of information and ideas.

At the meeting, held at Hertfordshire Probation's Headquarters in Hertford, the visitors heard about the different programmes used with offenders sentenced to punishment in the community, such as alcohol and drug treatments, group work on domestic violence and anger management and a programme for women offenders which Hertfordshire was one of the few Trusts in the country to deliver.

They also heard how reoffending rates can be reduced by all the agencies working together to help offenders achieve more stability in their lives, such as appropriate accommodation or having a job.

Chief Executive Tessa Webb told the Chinese delegates: "We believe that breaking the cycle of crime through community sentencing is more effective than short-term custody."

She added: "I want our Probation staff to inspire and motivate offenders to believe they have the capacity to change and to support them in achieving changes."

The visit to the Trust's headquarters in Hertford was part of a fact-finding tour by the judges, which also included the Law Society, Oxford Combined Courts, LGC Forensics, the Crown Prosecution Service and a law firm.

Mr Gang Li said: "We were very pleased and honoured to vist the Probation Trust. In China community correction is only ten years old so we feel it is very necessary to look at the system in other countries.

Mr Li added: "Although we have quite a lot of differences in our political and judicial systems, the aim to reduce re-offending is the same in both countries."

Tessa Webb, Hertfordshire Probation Trust's Chief Executive, said afterwards: "We were delighted to meet the Chinese officials, who asked us many knowledgeable questions, and to share with them what we have learned in providing Probation Services over the last hundred years."

ENDS