More detailed risk assessments need to be carried out on Devon and Cornwall's offenders, according to a report out today.

The inspector of probation rated the current service as average, but said there was some room for improvement.

Work to protect the public was carried out well in sixty nine per cent of cases, which was below the national average, but activities to prevent reoffending and ensure that sentences are carried out properly was average.

The inspectors found that the service needed to be more specific in some cases about the best ways to reduce reoffending.

They were praised for their work with drug and alcohol groups and housing associations to bring offences down.

 The Devon and Cornwall probation trust says it has just launched a new project examining the reasons why people commit offences.

They say this will help them to bring down reoffending rates.

They are also looking at new ways to make reports clearer.