§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the speech of Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 2 April (H.L. Deb., cols. 651–2), whether Probation Officers who resign from the service rather than report a breach of a community order whereby their customer might suffer a benefit sanction will be free from the penalties for voluntary unemployment. [HL 1864]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security(Baroness Hollis of Heigham)As set out in Home Office National Standards, probation officers are required to determine, in the first instance, whether an offender has failed to comply with the terms of a community sentence without reasonable cause. The national Probation Service expects probation officers to discharge their responsibilities in a professional manner and in accordance with the law.
If a probation officer resigns rather than implement these measures and then makes a claim to Jobseeker's Allowance, he will be subject to the same rules as everyone else making a claim. Jobseeker's Allowance is intended for people who are out of work for reasons 130WA beyond their own control. Entitlement is not automatic. It has always been a principle of unemployment insurance that people who leave their jobs without just cause, or who are dismissed for misconduct or who refuse to take up an offer of employment without good cause, suffer a benefit penalty. There is no intention to alter these provisions to exclude probation officers.