Section 95 and Sexuality

Abstract

Despite CJA 1991 s95's implicit requirement that the Probation Service should operate without discrimination on 'improper' grounds, which National Standards explicitly interpret to include 'sexual orientation', Probation Areas have not consistently included sexuality within their Equal Opportunities policies. To establish what steps Services have taken to promote equality of opportunity in this respect in both employment practice and service delivery, Sarah Mackereth of Merseyside Probation Service surveyed the Service and found clear inconsistency, ambivalence and tokenism.