Much of the Probation Service's work can only be achieved in partnership with others.

The Probation Service allocates over £1m per year under its grant-giving powers to community projects in the West Midlands. We part- or wholly-fund a variety of services aimed at reducing crime by targeting the problem areas (drugs, alcohol, debt, etc) that are shown to be linked to offending.

We play an active role in the seven West Midlands Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships with local authorities, police and other agencies in Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull and Dudley.

We are similarly involved with Drug Action Teams based in the seven districts, which take a multi-agency approach to drug-related offending. Other district-based multi-agency involvement includes the Supporting People initiative which meets the accommodation-related needs of a range of vulnerable groups.

Our partnerships work at a number of levels, from the community-based to the strategic. The Probation Service is actively involved in the West Midlands Local Criminal Justice Board, which also includes:

• The Courts Service;
• The Crown Prosecution Service;
• West Midlands Police;
• Youth Offending Teams;
• Birmingham Race Action Partnership.