RUSSIANS have been visiting West Mercia Probation Service on a fact-finding mission to see what reforms they can bring to their own prison system.

During a day-long visit to the Kidderminster headquarters, the delegation discussed community sentencing and looked at the supervision of offenders on community sentences, work with prisoners, re-settlement and partnerships with police and other agencies in managing offenders.

Russia is undergoing major reforms in its prisons and is looking for ideas to help.

There are some prisons in the country holding 30 people in a cell meant for eight.

One of the delegation, Oleg Filimonov, who is the deputy chief of Justice Ministry's Prison Directorate, said Russia needed to learn from other nations.

"We know there is a need to change the penal system in our country," he said. "Our aim is to change the way of life of our prisoners to ensure they do not re-offend in the future."

Russia has no alternative punishment, such as community sentences, therefore prisoners are all locked up together, no matter what their crime is.

The country is hoping to draft new laws to radically alter the penal system and reduce the prison population.

"Our aim is use the British experience of public control in British prisons in Russia and find alternatives to custody, such as electronic tagging" said Valery Borshchev, who headed the delegation.

The decision to visit Britain followed a trip to Russia in the summer by the chair of West Mercia Probation, Tricia Bradbury.

"Some of the prisoners I talked to in Russia had no idea why they were being held, had no paperwork as to what charges they faced and didn't believe that their families knew where they were," she said.

She added that conditions were poor, but Russia hoped to have community work for offenders by 2005.

"We were pleased that we have been able to host the delegates," she added. "I received such a warm welcome when I visited Russia. It is nice to be able to return the hospitality."