These Regulations may be cited as the Local Probation Boards (Appointment) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 22nd January 2001.

A local probation board shall have a maximum of 15 members.

A member of a local probation board shall be at least eighteen years of age on appointment.

The following shall not be appointed as a member of a local probation board:

(a)    a person employed under a contract of employment with a local probation board; or

(b)    a person who is subject to the notification requirements of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

(1)    Persons appointed to a local probation board shall, so far as practicable, be representative of the local community in the board's area.

(2)    Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), where practicable, four of the persons appointed to a board shall be justices of the peace for a commission area falling within the area of the board and two of the persons so appointed shall be members of a local authority for a local government area (within the meaning of section 270 of the Local Government Act 1972) which falls within the area of the board.

(3)    Persons appointed to a local probation board shall, so far as practicable, live or work (or have lived or worked) in the board's area.

A member of a local probation board other than the chief officer shall be appointed for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

Save for a chief officer, no person shall serve more than two terms as a member of a local probation board.

(1)    The Secretary of State may suspend, or remove, from office a member of a local probation board, by giving notice in writing on one of the following grounds:

(a)    subject to paragraph (2) below, that he has failed to attend board meetings for a continuous period of two months without the consent of the board;

(b)    that he has been convicted of a criminal offence;

(c)    that he has become subject to the notification requirements of Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997;

(d)    that a bankruptcy order has been made against him, or his estate has been sequestrated or he has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors; or

(e)    that it is considered that he is unable or unfit to discharge his functions as a member.

(2)    A member of a local probation board shall not be removed from office under paragraph (1)(a) above if in the opinion of the Secretary of State he has good reason for the non-attendance.

Paul Boateng

Minister of State

Home Office

21st December 2000

These Regulations provide for the appointment of members of a local probation board. They provide for the number of members and the conditions to be fulfilled for appointment. They also provide for the circumstances in which members may be removed or suspended from office.