Inner London Probation Service

The Inner London Probation Service existed until 31 March 2001 when it was succeeded by the larger London Probation Area. Its final Chief Probation Officer was John Harding, later visiting professor at the University of Hertfordshire. He succeeded Graham Smith, who went on to be the Chief Inspector of Probation in England and Wales and was knighted towards the end of his career. Seldon Charles Forrester Farmer, OBE was the longest serving Principal Probation Officer for London from 1948 - 1970 when he retired.[1][2] Seldon Farmer was previously the Principal Probation Officer for the County of Berkshire and the Chair of Napo (trade union) from 1946 - 1949.[3][4]

Principal/Chief Probation Officers

During its 64 year history were[5]

1. Guy Clutton-Brock[6] (1937 -1940)
2. Ralph Henry Beeson OBE[7] (1941 -1948)
3. Seldon Charles Forrester Farmer OBE[8] (1948 - 1970)
4. Bill Pearce OBE (1970 - 1980)
5. Sir Graham William Smith (1981 - 1992)
6. John Harding CBE 1993 - 2001

Deputy Principal/Chief Probation Officers

Note: Because of the number of deputies it is not easily possible to give either the terms of office, chronology, nor a comprehensive list.

• Stanley Ratcliffe[9][10]
• E George Pratt[11][12]
• Peter P Shervington OBE (1971- ?)[13]
• Eric Knapman[14][15]

History

At an earlier point it was known as the Inner London Probation and After Care Service.

Its boundaries were the same as ILEA (the Inner London Education Service) and it consisted of the 12 Inner London boroughs.

A book about its early years was written by a former employee. It is now called the London Probation Service and includes some of the outer London Boroughs.[16]

References

1. Probation Centenary 2007 - A snap shot of the history of the probation service. National Probation Service. 2007.
2. Statham, Roger (24 September 2014). The Golden Age of Probation: Mission V Market. Waterside Press. ISBN 9781909976146.
3. "National Association of Probation Officers Annual General Meeting, July 5th, 1946". Probation. 5 (4): 40–40. July 1946. doi:10.1177/026455054600500404. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
4. Farmer, S.C.F. (May 1949). "Chairman's Address To Conference". Probation. 5 (21): 275–275. doi:10.1177/026455054900502104.
5. May, C; Lord, S (2001). Recollections of Probation in Inner London. London: Inner London Probation Service.
6. "PETTICOAT CHARITY". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 3 May 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
7. Beeson, Ralph Henry. "The London Gazette". The London Gazette.
8. Farmer, Seldon Charles Forrester. "The London Gazette". The London Gazette.
9. "Outlined work of 'Samaritans'". The Surrey Mirror and County Post, etc. 15 November 1968. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
10. "Action urged on Reigate borough youth problems". The Surrey Mirror and County Post, etc. 24 April 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
11. "Community jobs instead of jail sentences". The Daily Telegraph. 29 December 1972. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
12. "Alternative to prison scheme finds its feet". Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette. 19 July 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
13. "Local workers in New Years' Honours list". Kensington and Chelsea News. 7 January 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
14. "Courts work order powers". The Daily Telegraph. 5 January 1973. p. 17. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
15. "Old cop shop will keep offenders out of prison". Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette. 4 January 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
16. Page, Martin (1992). Crimefighters of London: a history of the origins and development of the London Probation Service, 1876 - 1965. London: Inner London Probation Service. ISBN 0951671103.