§ 51. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is widespread concern about the prison population having increased to about 24,500, the highest number ever reached, and the Borstal population having increased by 359 above the previous year, that at the present quarter sessions held in Leicester 13 persons were placed on probation, five of whom were of no fixed abode or destination, and that there is a consequent increased strain upon the probation service in Leicester and generally; and what steps he will take to make the probation service more desirable for appropriate persons choosing a career and to provide the necessary personnel to deal with the increasing call made upon the service.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI understand that the Leicester probation service has an unfilled vacancy and that a second vacancy will occur at the end of the month. When these posts are filled, however, the case-loads of the six men officers should average well below the sixty 39W regarded as reasonable for an urban area: two of the three women officers have exceptionally light case-loads.
Following a recommendation by the Industrial Court in May, 1957, the salaries of probation officers were increased by amounts ranging from 18 per cent. to 8 per cent. This has no doubt helped to make the probation service more attractive, and I am glad to say that there are now in training or due to begin training 195 men and women, much the highest number on record: 70 of them should be ready to enter the service before the end of the year.