The police and probation officer's partnership : a study investigating each officer's role and their partnership in probation

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore Malta Police Force and Probation Department partnership. The study was situated within a critical review of international thinking and studies on partnership working in criminal justice. The primary source of data was semi structured interviews with thirteen police inspectors, two police superintendents and four probation officers. It was clear that they have strong partnership working relationship within each agency and also between the two agencies. One area of significant difference was that police preferred informal partnership working whilst probation officers would like to see more formal arrangement. The findings were then related back to the relevant literature and the academic and professional implication discussed. Both the police officers and the probation officers stress the need for more communication between the Malta Police Force and the Probation Department. The police and probation officers participants gave their recommendations so as to enhance their working relationship between the Malta Police Force and the Probation Department. This rendered this study valuable and a potential catalyst for future research.