Policing and Crime Bill

Perhaps I may try to get my mind around this. This is not a probation order; it is an alternative to a fine. Therefore, will the defendant be told that either they will be fined or that alternatively they can choose to attend rehabilitation meetings? Will there be a choice? Are the magistrates going to tell them that they can choose one or the other? Either way, it will still be a court decision, which of course will be subject to a breach, and the breach will result in whatever the court would have done. It is important to know whether the decision is an alternative for the Bench or for the defendant. The noble Lord is right: if you are charged with drink driving, you will get time off if you decide to attend a course. However, if you breach that, it will constitute another offence. There will be a bit more to unpick on this issue, so it would be helpful for the rest of our discussion to have clarification on whether that is the situation. My noble friend asked who was going to run these meetings. It will not be the supervisor—that will come later—but will they be run by the probation service or by organisations that are geared up to deal with advice? Who is involved in all this?