to make recommendations to the Minister concerning the allocation of the services of probation officers to various areas;

to receive and consider the recommendations of the Probation Case Committee of any area concerning the needs or working of the probation service, and to advise the Minister on all matters arising therefrom, other than administrative matters;

to make recommendations to the Minister relating to the duties of the Committee and of Probation Case Committees;

to advise the Minister on any question of policy and upon any other matter relating to the probation service as he may refer to it for advice.

to examine and review the work of probation officers in relation to individual cases;

to receive and consider reports from probation officers;

to make or direct the making of any communication which it may be necessary to make to the court;

to make or direct the making to the Central Probation Committee of recommendations concerning the probation service;

to advise and assist probation officers in the execution of their duties;

to ensure that probation officers perform their duties in a satisfactory manner.

to make such arrangements and to give such directions as may be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to probation orders;

to train staff for the Probation Service;

to act as secretary to the Central Probation Committee and to advise the Committee on all technical matters relating to the probation system;

to act as liaison officer between the Central Probation Committee and the Commissioner of Prisons and any other authority or body concerned with the treatment of juveniles in all matters, and especially in matters relating to probation, approved schools and approved homes;

to promote co-operation between the Probation Service and the Police Force and any other voluntary society affording appropriate social services;

generally to organise and supervise the Probation Service and to promote the efficient working thereof.

to make such preliminary inquiries as the court may direct into the antecedents, home surroundings and other circumstances of an accused person;

to undertake the supervision of such probationers as may be assigned to his charge;

subject to any directions given by the court (whether in the probation order or otherwise), to visit the home of every such probationer and make inquiries as to his conduct, mode of life and employment;

to keep in close touch with the probationer and to arrange to meet him at least once a fortnight during the first six months of the period specified in the probation order and thereafter at such intervals as he may deem necessary, having regard to the conduct, mode of life and needs of the probationer;

if the probationer is a child attending school, to make periodical inquiries of the principal of the school concerned as to the probationer’s attendance, conduct and progress:

Provided that the probationer shall not, unless he is actually residing at the school, be personally interviewed by the probation officer on the school premises;

to ensure that the probationer understands the terms and conditions of the probation order, and to endeavour by encouragement, persuasion and warning to secure his observance of them;

to advise, assist and befriend the probationer and, where necessary, endeavour to find him suitable employment;

if the probationer is under eighteen years of age, to endeavour to secure his association with some suitable youth movement or other welfare organisation;

to keep proper and up-to-date records in respect of every probationer for whom he is responsible, including notes of visits and interviews and relevant details as to the conduct and progress of the probationer.

to the court, in accordance with any directions given by the court in a probation order or otherwise;

to the appropriate case committee, on the conduct, mode of life and general progress of every probationer placed under his supervision;

to the court, the principal probation officer and the appropriate case committee upon the failure of a probationer placed under his supervision to observe any of the conditions of the probation order relating to him;

to the appropriate case committee, upon any case under his supervision in relation to which he receives a request for a report.