From London Bridge to a serial rapist, failing to monitor offenders properly puts the public in danger

Analysis: The National Probation Service must improve urgently before it is handed responsibility for thousands more convicts, Lizzie Dearden writes

Joseph McCann went on a rampage of rape and kidnapping while under probation supervision (PA)

A watchdog’s warning that some probation officers lack the “professional curiosity” to check whether dangerous offenders are lying should not come as a surprise after the events of the past year – but it must be acted on.

In November, convicted terrorist Usman Khan murdered two people while supposedly under supervision by the National Probation Service (NPS) and subject to a slew of licence conditions.

Months before, Joseph McCann launched a campaign of rape and kidnapping across England while also being monitored. He had already reoffended while under supervision and it was an error by the same NPS that meant he was automatically released from prison in February.