Probation began in London in 1876 but was a charity until the state assumed responsibility for probation in 1907, when the first Probation Officers were appointed under the Probation of Offenders Act.

 

Five separate services operated in London – Inner London, South East, South West, North East and Middlesex. They were amalgamated in 2001 to form London Probation.

 

London Probation Trust was formed on the 1 April 2010.

 

London Probation Trust is part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which in turn forms part of the Ministry of Justice.

 

Key Dates in the history of Probation

 

  • 1907 

First Probation Officers appointed under the Probation of Offenders Act 1907

 
  • 1920s

Appointing a Probation Officer becomes a requirement of the courts

 
  • 1937

Guy Clutton-Brock appointed London's first Principal Probation Officer

 
  • 1940s

The Probation Service in London gained its longest serving Principal Probation Officer in 1948, Seldon Charles Forrester Farmer, who led the service at a time of high caseloads & staff shortages.

 
  • 1950s

Female Probation Officers began to supervise boys up to 14 and girls up to 17

 
  • 1972

Community Service (Community Payback) became an alternative sentencing option to prison as part of the Criminal Justice Act 1972

 
  • 1980s

Hostels (now Approved Premises) introduced to increase public protection and supervision of dangerous offenders

 
  • 1990s

Tagging and specific requirements for drug and alcohol treatment

 
  • 2001

Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) introduced. Involves probation, police, prisons and other agencies working together to manage dangerous offenders in the community.

 
  • 2004

National Offender Management Service (NOMS) formed by merging HM Prison Service and the National Probation Service

 
  • 2007

The National Probation Service celebrates 100 years of service

 
  • 2010

 

 London Probation Trust formed