498.The Government has embarked upon a programme of probation service changes which include, where necessary, amalgamating probation areas so that they and the police service share common boundaries. Overall, this will mean the 54 existing English and Welsh probation areas becoming 42, including the five in London joining to create a single new probation service for the capital, its boundaries the same as those of the Metropolitan Police District (as amended by section 323), except that the single probation service will also cover the City of London. All of the planned probation amalgamations are intended to take effect on 1 April 2001.
499.Section 326 provides an order-making power to amalgamate the probation areas in Greater London into one area and organise the probation service in that area. Provision may be made in the order to amend or repeal the Probation Service Act 1993.