THE head of Britain's probation service visited Bolton on Friday to help brief staff on changes to the service.
Martin Narey, chief executive of the new National Offender Management Service - which will incorporate the existing prisons and probation services later this year - also used his visit to meet staff and offenders involved in rehabilitation projects across the town.
He met specialist drug workers and drug users who benefit from the Drug Treatment and Testing Order programme and staff from a community punishment project currently involved in repainting and renovating the Clarence Street Community College.
Mr Narey then attended the Greater Manchester Probation Board meeting held at Bolton Town Hall.
Speaking about the newly formed NOMS, Mr Narey said: "The closer working of the Prisons and Probation services is key to reducing re-offending and cutting crime.
"The new National Offender Management Service will ensure that both custodial and community punishments make offenders address their behaviour and offer a path away from crime."
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