§ 74. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in the London area the normal case load of a probation officer is 150; and what he proposes to do to improve this situation.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe average case load of men officers in London is at present about eighty, and that of women officers is forty-one. I am greatly concerned that case loads for men have become in general too high and are still increasing. I am endeavouring to recruit an additional twenty-two trained officers, and meanwhile I am, so far as possible, employing temporary officers to help with the work. Eight men who are being specially trained for London will begin to take a share of work next month, and another special training course will start in February. In addition, I hope to continue to attract to the London Service some of the men who complete the national courses of training for probation work.