Hertfordshire Probation Service is among the country's most effective in dealing with offenders who flout court orders.

Confirmation of the service's tough stance was revealed in the latest government audit which revealed that the Herts service is one of nine in England and Wales to take action in 100 per cent of cases by returning culprits to court.

All 54 services in the country were scrutinised as part of this exercise, with the case records of 4,400 offenders examined over a 10-day period in September.

Chief Probation Officer, Geoff Dobson said: 'Hertfordshire has been taking the lead in strict enforcement of community court orders for the past two years - and the results demonstrate the high level of success staff have achieved.

'Probation officers and community service officers in Hertfordshire will not allow offenders to shirk their meetings or work placements.'

He added: 'New rules now mean that offenders must attend every appointment and will now only get one warning before action is taken. They must attend of face the prospect of being returned to court.'

The new national audit was published this week by the Association of Chief Officers of Probation in conjunction with HM Inspectorate of Probation and the Criminal Policy Research Unit at South Bank University.

Last year Hertfordshire pioneered a new enforcement agreement with other criminal justice agencies including courts and police, to ensure that offenders who failed to attend were returned to court as speedily as possible.