The Echo wrote that the probation service “has lost track of offenders and officers admit they do not know where some of them are” (June 7).

At a neighbourhood action panel meeting, and in response to questions from residents about how many offenders were living in Milton ward, one of our managers in Southend, Carolyn Butlin, is quoted as saying she could not say where offenders lived.

The article continued: “She said: ‘It’s very difficult for us to produce statistics because Milton ward is a very small part of the area we serve’.”

Carolyn’s meaning was clear enough for the minutes of the meeting to read: “The information was held, but not in a readily retrievable form.” The local police confirm there was no doubt about what she was saying.

There was no question about not knowing where offenders were.

I would want your readers to know this has nothing to do with losing track of offenders.

It was purely a question of retrieving and providing to that meeting detailed information about ex-offenders’ accommodation in the ward – not possible.

Mary Archer
Chief Executive
Essex Probation