Probation Service failing to assess thousands who pose risk to women, watchdog says

Plans were outlined in the sentencing bill to increase the number of offenders monitored through electronic tagging. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer

The Probation Service in England and Wales is failing to monitor and assess tens of thousands of offenders who pose a serious risk to women and girls, a watchdog has told the Guardian.

Martin Jones, the HM chief inspector of probation, launching a six-month inquiry into failings in public protection, said it was inevitable there would be more murders, rapes and serious sexual offences without an improvement.