National Probation Service
Bulletin
Issue 33
100/05 ORAL HEARINGS: FURTHER
GUIDANCE
Further guidance is provided for probation managers on
handling the increased numbers of Parole Board oral
hearings arising from the House of Lords’ judgments in
the cases of Smith and West, particularly in light of the
implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
PC 76/2005 reiterates the importance of Probation
Service involvement in the process, explains the
probation officer’s role as a key witness at oral hearings
and the need for effective breach notification reports
with full risk assessment and risk management plans. It
also includes helpful advice on dealing with difficult
questions and frequently asked questions.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Email: jo.thompson8@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Email: akile.osman@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
101/05 THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR
VICTIMS OF CRIME
A new code which sets out the services victims can
expect to receive from the criminal justice system was
laid before Parliament on 19 October by Fiona
Mactaggart as part of the Government's work to offer
better support and advice to victims of crime and their
families.
The Code of Practice for Victims includes:
• A right to information about their crime within
specified time scales, including the right to be
notified of any arrests and court cases
• A dedicated family liaison police officer to be
assigned to bereaved relatives
October – November 2005
CONTENTS
100/05 Oral Hearings: Further Guidance
101/05 The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime
102/05 Freedom of Information – Requirement
103/05 Crown Court Information – Bench Handbook
104/05 Just Women Leaflet
105/05 HMP Styal Fax Number
106/05 Intermittent Custody Establishments
107/05 Appointments
108/05 Events
109/05 NPD Diary
110/05 Issued Recently
• Clear information from the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority (CICA) on eligibility for
compensation under the Scheme
• All victims to be told about Victim Support and
either referred to them or offered their service
• An enhanced service in the cases of vulnerable
or intimidated victims
• Victims’ right of appeal to the Parliamentary
Ombudsman if they are dissatisfied with the
outcome of their complaint to an individual
service provider
The Code includes the probation duty to contact victims
and offer them an opportunity to make representations
about an offender’s licence conditions. In line with
provisions of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims
Act 2004, this includes victims of mentally disordered
offenders in certain circumstances. This duty is already
being fulfilled by probation but implementation for all
agencies will take place from April 2006, including the
right of appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime is published
online at: www.cjsonline.gov.uk
Email: eleanor.marshall@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Email: archana.patel@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
102/05 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION –
REQUIREMENT TO ADOPT AND
MAINTAIN A PUBLICATION
SCHEME
Since 29 February 2004, all public authorities (including
all Probation Areas) have had a statutory duty to adopt
and maintain a publication scheme. Prior to this
implementation date, Probation Areas were offered the
option of using a ‘model publication scheme’ which could
be adapted to local requirements (see Probation Circular
60/2003).
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Email: anna.cevidalli2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Email: shaila.hussein@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
103/05 CROWN COURT INFORMATION –
BENCH HANDBOOK
The NPD has published a Probation Bench Handbook
which provides information to Crown Court sentencers
on all aspects of the NPS’s work. It is a development
related to the production of Probation Bench Guides for
Magistrates. Crown Court Judges will have received
copies via addresses supplied by the Judicial Studies
Board and each Probation Area has been given a further
supply of copies.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
An electronic copy will be on the Probation website.
www.probation.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

What is a publication scheme? Can feedback be emailed to:

Email: NPSPublications@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
A publication scheme is the statutory mechanism
whereby public authorities, covered by the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Act, set out details of the information 104/05 JUST WOMEN LEAFLET
they routinely make available to everyone (e.g. leaflets,
policies, etc), how the information can be obtained and
'Just Women' is a new publication by women who have
whether a charge applies. They are initially approved by
worked positively through their Community Orders in the
the Information Commissioner for a period of four years.
West Midlands region. Many of them were facing
custody for their crimes and have been longer-term
What is the purpose of a publication scheme?
persistent offenders.

The overall purpose of these schemes is to provide a

The stories show how people can make changes while
simple, ‘at-a-glance’ guide to the types of information
under a range of probation supervision and
which the public authority can provide and so avoid the
interventions, such as the new women's accredited
need for people to request the information by other
behaviour programme, the Drug Rehabilitation
means. They are a public commitment to make certain
Requirement (formerly DTTO), the ICCP (Intensive
information available as well as a ‘shop window’ to
Control and Change Programme) as well as unpaid
advertise ‘what works’ at both local and national levels.
work. There is a feature article on Intermittent Custody
Increasingly, members of the public are consulting
too.
publication schemes (either via websites or by written
request) as a starting point for their information requests.
A copy of the publication is sent to each individual
Many public authorities such as the Ministry of Defence
sentencer in the whole region alongside other key
and the Department for Constitutional Affairs now have a
stakeholders and probation staff.
link to FOI and their publication schemes on the front
page of their websites.

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FURTHER INFORMATION: 108/05 EVENTS
Email:
wendy.armour@staffordshire.probation.gsx.gov.uk
Tel: 01785 231 726 Prisoner Resettlement: Repairing the Broken Links
conference held by the British Society of Criminology.

105/05 HMP STYAL FAX NUMBER

The workshop is aimed at:
• managers and practitioners in the Offender
Please note the number below for all faxes to HMP Styal manager services
in Cheshire, regarding suicide and self-harm matters. • academics and students in criminology
• crime and social policy makers
Fax number: 01625 553247 • organisations providing resettlement services
• politicians focussing on crime issues
• organisations concerned with victims of crime
106/05 INTERMITTENT CUSTODY • voluntary sector organisations and staff
ESTABLISHMENTS – NUMBER
CHANGE FURTHER INFORMATION:
Venue: University of Leicester
Date: 7 December
The numbers listed on page 11 of PC 53/2005 are now
Contact: bscresettlement@aol.com
superseded by the following:
Tel: 020 8223 7829

Kirkham:
Telephone: 01772 675712 (Direct Line) 109/05 NPD DIARY
01772 675400 (General Switchboard)
01772 675713 (IC Centre Fax)
November
Morton Hall: 1st Annual Sentencers/Probation
Telephone: 01522 666845 (Direct Line) Conference, Devizes Corn Exchange,
01522 666700 (General Switchboard) Wiltshire
01522 666844 (IC Centre Fax) 3rd & 4th NPS Disabled Staff Support Network
Inaugural Conference, Hayes
Staff are asked to use these numbers in future for Conference Centre, Derbyshire
contacting the Intermittent Custody Establishments. 8th Home Secretary’s visit to
Nottinghamshire Probation HQ
9th NE/NW Chief Officers Regional
107/05 APPOINTMENTS Challenge/Dialogue, Malmaison,
Piccadilly, Manchester
14th Chief Officers meeting, The Institution of
A successful candidate has not been identified for the
Civil Engineers, 1 Great Peter Street,
post of Chief Executive for the National Offender
London
Management Service vacated by Martin Narey. From
15th National MAPPA Conference, The New
Monday 14 November, Helen Edwards (Director General
Connaught Rooms, Covent Gardens,
of the Home Office Communities Group and formerly the
London
Director of Nacro) will be the interim NOMS Chief
15th “Preparing Business Capabilities for
Executive. The vacancy will be re-advertised.
Commissioning” event for Chiefs and
Chairs, The City Inn, Westminster

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15th – 17th National Consortia Conference, Hilton PC79 Prolific and Other Priority Offenders (PPOs):
Hotel, Gateshead Summary of Actions and Monitoring
16th YH/EM Chief Officers Regional Arrangements
Challenge/Dialogue, Royal York Hotel, PC80 Drug Rehabilitation Requirements: (1) National
North Yorkshire Standards Correction; (2) Information for
16th Workload Measurement Tool, Senior Judges
Management Team Workshop, London PC81 Assistive Technology Update
17th Workload Measurement Tool, Senior PC82 Monitoring of Risk of Harm
Management Team Workshop, PC83 The Implication of the Offender Management
Wakefield or Leeds Model for Service Delivery Structures
17th National Consortium Directors CLAN PC84 NOMIS Rollout Schedules and Change Control
Meeting, Hilton Hotel, Gateshead Procedures
17th Chairs Meeting, The Methodist Central PC85 Sex Offender Programmes – Management
Hall, Westminster Update
21st Workload Measurement Tool, Train the PC86 Business Planning Priorities and Indicative
Trainer event, London Targets 2006-07
24th Workload Measurement Tool, Senior
Management Team Workshop, Other Publications:
Llandrindod Wells
28th – 29th NPS Service Delivery Conference, Probation Bench Handbook
Queens Hotel, Leeds NPS leaflet – Who we are, What we do
MAPPA leaflet – Preventing Serious Harm
December NPS Performance Report 17
1st SE/EE Chief Officers Regional Interventions News Issue 21
Challenge/Dialogue, 1 Great Peter Interventions News IAPS Update
Street, London Prisons & Probation Ombudsman Annual Report
1st Workload Measurement Tool, Senior HMIC Police Force Structures Report
Management Team Workshop, Workforce Information Report Issue 8
Manchester CJS in Brief Issue 6
2nd Nottinghamshire Employer Conference,
Lakeside, Arnold, Nottingham NOMS Publications:
6th Estates and Facilities Management
Contract Retender Chief and Chairs Please visit: www.noms.homeoffice.gov.uk
Conference, venue tbc NOMS Update No 6
13th – 14th National Consortium Directors CLAN NOMS Update No 7
Meeting, Horseferry House, London

110/05 ISSUED RECENTLY TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR THE NPS

BULLETIN, OR TO BE ADDED TO THE
DISTRIBUTION LIST CONTACT:
Probation Circulars 2005: NPSBULLETIN@HOMEOFFICE.GSI.GOV.UK

PC76 Oral Hearings: Further Guidance

PC77 Monitoring of PPO and High/Very High Risk of
Harm Cases
PC78 Community Order Completion and Progress
Report to Court