HC Deb 24 May 1976 vol 912 c1W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation orders were made in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. John

The numbers of persons in respect of whom a probation order was made for their principal offence were as follows:

1966 47,073
1967 49,076
1968 47,890
1969 51,555
1970 51,123
1971* 31,591
1972 31,854
1973 29,224
1974 29,958
1975 30,000†
* Certain provisions in the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 which come into force on 1st January 1971 abolished the power of the courts to impose probation orders on persons aged under 17.
† Provisional.

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of supervision of a person on probation in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. John

Because of the difficulty of establishing accurately the time spent by probation officers on their various tasks, the information available requires some detailed explanation and my noble Friend will be writing to the hon. Member.

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