UNCLASSIFIED

National Probation Service

Bulletin
Issue 62 29 June 2007

The Bulletin has been improved for easier on-screen reading. It now summaries new content placed on Epic
(http://npsintranet.probation.gsi.gov.uk/index.htm) in the previous week and significant messages that have been
circulated on the Chief Officer gateway. Articles can now be read by either scrolling down the page or by clicking the
titles below:

143/07 New Secretary of State for Justice and Other Changes

144/07 End of Custody Licence – Further to PC22/2007
145/07 Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – fixed recall period of 28 days
146/07 Approved Premises – Service Review
147/07 Change of Responsibilities within NOMS Performance Improvement Directorate
148/07 Appointments
149/07 Issued Recently

143/07 NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE AND OTHER CHANGES

The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP has been appointed as Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor at the Ministry of Justice.
As at 29 June, other ministerial appointments have yet to be confirmed.

Jack Straw has also been appointed to First Secretary of State, the most senior Secretary of State in Cabinet. While
management of the justice system remains at the core of the Ministry, there have been other “machinery of
government changes”. These include the creation of a Department for Children, Schools and Families. The MoJ will
work jointly with this new Department in relation to policy and funding for youth offending and the Youth Justice
Board, including consideration of alternatives to custody.

Operation of the youth justice system and formal accountability for the Youth Justice Board together with the relevant
NOMS staff will remain with the Ministry of Justice, as will the lead on the relevant criminal justice issues.

The challenge for fresh ideas for probation, issued by Lord Falconer and the subject of a staff competition with a
£500 prize for every idea implemented, seamlessly transfers to the new Secretary of State and will continue.

Epic: Navigate from Home>News and Comms>News>Lord Falconer’s Challenge: Announcement of National
Competition

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 Issue 62 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin
June 2007

144/07 END OF CUSTODY LICENCE – FURTHER TO PC22/2007

The Prison Service has instructed governors to aim to release ECL adult prisoners serving under 12 months from
Friday 29 June.

Those offenders subject to probation supervision are to be released from Monday 2 July. In line with the agreement
with the Prison Service that areas should receive two working days notice, areas should have been contacted by
close on Wednesday 27th about prisoners leaving custody on the 2nd who will be subject to supervision.

Issued to Chief Officers, Chairs, Board Secretaries via the Chief Officer Gateway – 25 June 2007

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145/07 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION BILL – FIXED RECALL PERIOD OF 28

DAYS

This Bill was published for the first time on 26 June, containing 129 clauses and 23 schedules.

Clauses 9 – 20 of the Bill relate specifically to sentencing, including a provision for non-dangerous offenders who
breach the terms of their licence or who re-offend to be recalled to prison for a fixed period of 28 days. The role of
the Parole Board is changed in such cases so that it acts as an appellant authority rather than routinely reviewing all
recalls. It provides for other offenders (except those serving extended sentences) to be released by the Secretary of
State without referral to the Parole Board, if he considers that it is safe to do so. Prisoners serving extended
sentences will, as now, be released only after a recommendation by the Parole Board.

For further information the explanatory notes and the Bill are available on the internet:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200607/criminal_justice_and_immigration.htm

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146/07 APPROVED PREMISES – SERVICE REVIEW

A review of approved premises services has started. A group of 17 specialists, jointly chaired by the public protection
and commissioning and contestability heads in NOMS, will review current arrangements for the delivery of approved
premises and make recommendations for the future commissioning of services.

The membership of the group includes a serving chief officer, an ACO with responsibility for APs and the National
Association of Probation and Bail Hostels (NAPBH). The review will be completed by October 2007. Terms of
reference have been circulated to chief officers.

Further Information: mike.tennant@justice.gsi.gov.uk

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Issue 62 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin

June 2007
 Issue 62 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin
June 2007

147/07 CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN NOMS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

DIRECTORATE

Director of Performance and Improvement, Jonathan Slater, and Director of Probation, Roger Hill, have reviewed
their responsibilities within the Performance Improvement Directorate. From July, Jonathan Slater will take
responsibility for Public Protection from Roger Hill. Roger Hill will take responsibility for the Probation Change
Programme. This means that Roger Hill will be Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the Probation Change
Programme.

Issued to Chief Officers & Chairs via the Chief Officer Gateway – 28 June 2007

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148/07 APPOINTMENTS – HM INSPECTORATE OF PROBATION

Kate White and Julie Fox have been appointed to the substantive posts of HM Assistant Chief Inspector.
Kate White will manage the Offender Management Inspection (OMI) Programme and Julie Fox the Youth Offending
Team Inspection (YOTI) Programme

Further information: Andrew.Bridges@Justice.gsi.gov.uk

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149/07 ISSUED RECENTLY

Probation Circulars 2007:

PC23 Reducing the Risk of Drug Related Deaths Issued 29 June

Drug-using offenders are at an increased risk of drug-related death following their

release from custody. Where offenders are subject to post-custodial supervision the
offender manager can intervene to reduce the risk. This circular summarises the risks
faced by newly-released drug- using offenders and sets out actions required of offender
managers to reduce this risk. It also gives good practice examples and a list of resources
that can be used to support this work.

PC22 End of Custody Licence (ECL) Issued 21 June

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Bulletins are posted on the Epic Intranet http://npsintranet.probation.gsi.gov.uk/index.htm (navigate from

Home>News & Comms>Newsletters>Bulletins) and the NPS Website www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk,
(navigate from Home>News & Updates>Bulletins)

Issued by the NOMS Communications Unit

Issue 62 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin

June 2007