§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the Offender Assessment System; and what discussions he has had with police and prosecution services on implementation. [115435]
§ Paul GogginsWe are making good progress with the implementation of the Offender Assessment System (OASys). In the National Probation Service (NPS), all areas have either implemented or are in the process of implementing OASys. The majority have already rolled out a paper based system and NPS are in the process of rolling out the IT system. The IT rollout is a stepped approach with areas about to receive release two of a four phase IT programme. The Prison Service began piloting a computer-based system in April 2003, with an 18 month rolling programme of implementation across the prison estate starting in June 2003.
Criminal justice agencies have been kept regularly informed of the development and implementation of OASys. Probation areas have held discussions locally with criminal justice agencies, including the police and Crown Prosecution Service as part of the phased implementation.