Commentary on Sections Part 12 - Sentencing Chapter 1: General provisions about sentencing Section 158: Meaning of “pre-sentence reports”
464.This section re-enacts section 162 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act and provides a definition for a pre-sentence report described in the preceding Sections. Such a report must be prepared by an “appropriate officer”, defined in subsection (2) as an officer of the local probation board where the offender is over 18, or where the offender is under 18 a probation officer, social worker or member of a youth offending team.