§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the code of professional conduct which serves to guide probation officers in their dealings with the general public.
§ Mr. John PattenThe professional conduct of probation officers is a matter for the employing probation committee. It has therefore not been considered necessary for the Home Office to issue such guidance.
§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued concerning the relationships between probation committees and the probation service.
§ Mr. John PattenUnder paragraphs 2 and 3 of schedule 3 to the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 a probation committee is a body corporate responsible for the running of the probation service in a probation area. The constitution and duties of probation committees are set out in parts II and III of the Probation Rules 1984, as amended. Under section 74 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 the Secretary of State may make an order requiring a probation committee to carry out any of its statutory 579W duties if it is in default. The decision document "Organising Supervision and Punishment in the Community" published by HMSO in 1991 puts forward proposals for reorganising the probation service to increase its efficiency and effectiveness, including reshaping the role of probation committees. These proposals are currently under discussion with the probation service and others.