Have your say on probation

LARNE people are being encouraged to put forward their opinions on how the Probation Board for Northern Ireland could be improved in the coming years.

The main aim of the PBNI - a non-departmental public body of the newly created Department of Justice - is to protect people in the community by helping to prevent reoffending.

And in launching its corporate plan consultation document, the PBNI is keen to hear what members of the public think the priorities should be over the next three years.

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Mark Nicolson, area manager for south Antrim, wants to raise awareness of the service locally and show people how effective probation can be in helping to prevent reoffending.

He said: “The fear of crime is high in Northern Ireland and many people want to see offenders punished by having them sent to prison. However, that does not always prevent people reoffending and that is where the PBNI is most effective.

“Under our supervision, offenders know that even though they are not in prison, there are still certain expectations placed upon them and they are being held to account.

“It is our job to assess offenders, challenge their behaviour and attempt to change their attitudes. PBNI is a key agency in helping to protect the community. Probation officers are members of the public as well and so they have a vested interest in making Larne and NI as a whole a safer place to live.

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“Many people will ask: how do we know for sure that probation works? Well, the evidence provided by reconviction rates clearly shows that it does. Northern Ireland has the lowest reconviction rates in the UK. Seven out of 10 people subject to community supervision are not reconvicted within two years, compared with five out of 10 in England and Wales. Also, three out of four people who carry out community service are not reconvicted within two years.”

Mr Nicolson told the Times that 130 people are currently subject to supervision in south Antrim, with 35 being in the Larne area. The offenders are subject to a variety of supervision orders, ranging from community service to post-custody probation.

“One order doesn’t fit all and it is down to us as probation officers to assess each offender and come up with a suitable plan of supervision,” he added.

“This plan will hold the offender to account and is reviewed regularly, meaning that if an individual is making very good progress, then we can go back to the court and ask for the order to be amended. This is a positive step for both the offender and the courts.”

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Assessing offenders is a core part of a probation officer’s job. The process begins with a face-to-face meeting at which information is gathered and verified by the probation officer. The officer may also carry out home visits - sometimes unannounced - in order to get a clearer picture of the offender’s lifestyle.

All probation officers in Northern Ireland are required to undergo social work training and Mr Nicolson maintains that this gives local officers a huge advantage over their counterparts across the water. He added: “The system in England and Wales has been changed so that probation officers are no longer required to have social work qualifications and there is a consensus that this has not worked out well.

“The figures speak for themselves and Justice minister David Ford has said that Northern Ireland’s Probation Board is one of the most efficient probation services, if not the single most efficient, in the UK.”

The PBNI does not work in isolation but and carries out its duties alongside other agencies such as police, the Housing Executive, addiction services and community groups.

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Mr Nicolson said: “Officers will also encourage offenders to find a job, as research has shown that employment helps reduce the likelihood of reoffending”.

The service also offers support to victims of crime and works with restorative justice schemes to help reconcile offenders and victims. “There are occasions where it may be possible for the victim and offender to meet,” Mr Nicholson said.

“This has proven to be pretty powerful for both parties and has been piloted in the local area with some success. Even if it is simply by way of a letter, it can be a big step for the offender and help them to come to terms with their crime.”

Anyone who has any questions about the local probation service can contact Mr Nicolson at the Larne office on 028 2827 9231. To have your say on the corporate plan consultation document, simply go to www.pbni.org.uk and fill out the response form.