Training for the Probation Service

From Mr John Harding Sir: The Government is said to be considering allowing unqualified people, possibly those leaving the armed forces and other uniformed services, to become probation officers and to be trained on the job.

There are already plenty of staff in the Probation Service with previous careers in the forces, but what they and all our other probation officers need is high-quality training to provide them with the skills to deal with the increasing numbers of serious offenders being supervised safely by the Probation Service. Our work is getting harder and more complex - this job is not one you can walk into, whatever your background.

Yours faithfully, John Harding Chief Probation Officer Inner London Probation Service London, SW1

1 February