HC Deb 24 July 1958 vol 592 cc654-5
17. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, owing to the considerable increase in cases coming before the juvenile courts in the London area, probation officers and other staff are seriously overworked; and what special steps he is taking to remedy the situation.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I am aware that the steady increase in the business of the London juvenile courts in recent months has resulted in some over-burdening of the probation officers serving them, though I have not heard of serious overwork among other staff.

I have appointed five temporary assistants pending recruitment of trained officers to the seven vacancies in the juvenile courts. Some of these vacancies will be filled from among eight men at present in training who will take up appointments in London in about three months' time, and I hope to recruit other trained men and women before the end of the year. If the work of the courts continues at its present level, I shall consider, when these vacancies are filled, whether additional appointments ought to be made.

Mr. Janner

I thank the Home Secretary for his promise that this is being attended to, but may I ask whether he is aware that, at present, probation officers are overloaded with cases, and that the whole system in the juvenile courts will break down unless this is attended to? Further, is he aware that the staffs have to sit in the juvenile courts day after day until 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening, and that it is putting far too much pressure on them. What is he doing about that?

Mr. Butler

The hon. Gentleman will see that we are trying to fill the immediate vacancies, and I am glad to say that an advertisement which was recently put out for men to be trained for work in London resulted in a very considerable answer, so I do not think the work is regarded as either unsuitable or unattractive. I have looked at the case loads. Undoubtedly the case loads are much heavier for the men than for the women at the present moment. We have this very much under review. It is all part of the burden of the general increase in crime which, in this case, is falling on the probation officers.

Mr. Younger

In view of the importance of having adequate numbers and quality of staff, will the Home Secretary keep reminding himself of the dissatisfaction expressed in this House over his own decision on probation officers' pay?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. That is ever present to my mind.