Too few officers for probationers

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 1

Too few officers for probationers

More than 1100 people are on probation in Christchurch, but they have only 22 probation officers to report to in this city. Four of the probation officers are engaged in administration which means that some officers have a case load of more than 70 persons — most of whom report at least once a week. The maximum recommended load is about 50, and Wellington is one of the few places where this is attained.

Officers also have to write reports on persons remanded for one week by the Magistrate’s Court for sentence. It is mandatory by law that a report be prepared on any offender who is likely to be sentenced to gaol, detention centre training, periodic detention or Borstal training. Until recently, probation staff also worked in overcrowded conditions in offices in Oxford Terrace. However, five officers were moved into other premises in Armagh Street which has partly relieved the situation. “It is remarkable that they are doing their work so well considering the conditions under which they have to work,” the Christchurch District Probation Officer (Mr D. D. Leech) said yesterday. Mr Leech said that he would like to see the Government upgrade the probation service, increase the number of probation officers, assistant probation officers, and clerical staff. “The Minister of Justice (Dr Finlay) seems to favour a review of the probation service with this in mind,” Mr Leech said. The probation service is now waiting for the Minis-j try of Transport to vacate! the St Elmo Courts building, | in Hereford Street. |