News Shorts and Other Busyness

Michael Howard Back In Court

Squall 11, Autumn 1995, pg. 15.

One of Britain’s top criminal delinquents is to be taken to court again, this time by the National Association of Probation Officers.

Michael Howard will appear in the dock (by proxy no doubt) to answer for his decision to change the way probation officers are selected. He wants to do away with the necessity for a social work diploma and introduce the recruitment of people who will “learn on the job”.

As Baroness Blatch, the Home Office Minister, has said, it will allow more people with military or uniformed backgrounds to apply for the job.

The move is widely known to be an attempt to shift the probation service over to one of more discipline and punishment, rather than one which attempts to address the social and psychological rehabilitation of offenders. The National Association of Probation Officers are seeking a judicial review of Howard’s intention and say they will not co-operate with his proposals.