On-line forum: Role of the Probation Service

Background information about the inquiry is available at http://www.parliament.uk/probation-service-inquiry

The Justice Committee is setting up this web forum to hear the views of probation staff, and others with experience of probation and offenders in the community, on the challenges currently facing probation services.

The Committee would like to hear about the impact of recent reforms to probation services stemming from the creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), including the establishment of probation trusts, on the people who have day-to-day contact with offenders in the community.

Views are also sought on further reforms proposed by the current Government, including the development of a system in which probation trusts would compete with other providers from the voluntary and the private sectors.

The Committee will use the information gathered through the online forum, alongside written submissions and evidence given by experts in oral evidence sessions to make recommendations to the Government about its policy on probation. Quotes from the forum will be used to support the Committee’s final report and recommendations.

The forum opened on 17 May 2011 and will run until 21 June 2011. The site can be found at http://forums.parliament.uk/probation-service