58.Section 6 maintains the current arrangements under which Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation and other members of the inspectorate of probation hold office, but changes their title. Section 7 describes the functions of the inspectorate, which may be required to inspect the work of each local probation board. The Secretary of State may give directions to the Inspectorate setting out the criteria on which the inspections are to be based and requiring the Inspectorate to report to the Secretary of State on each inspection, within a given timescale and on a consistent basis with an agreed format. The Chief Inspector will continue to advise the Home Secretary on particular problems that arise, and on personnel matters. The Secretary of State will be able to give additional functions to the Chief Inspector which will enable him to inspect partner organisations, for example, Langley House, National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders. It will also enable the Home Secretary to call for reports where he has concerns about the performance of a service or the people he has appointed to manage the service.
Commentary on Sections Part I: The New Services Chapter I: National Probation Service for England and Wales Section 6 and 7: The Inspectorate