Over 5,500 unpaid work orders not completed after two years in England and Wales

Exclusive: Orders should be done within a year of sentence as experts blame chronic understaffing' in probation service

More than 5,500 unpaid work orders that form part of community sentences have not been completed more than two years after being handed down, with experts blaming chronic understaffing" in the probation service.

Ordinarily the orders, which can be for between 40 and 300 hours, should be completed within 12 months of sentence. Figures show there are more than 15,100 unpaid work orders not completed in that time in England and Wales,