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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, along with Naomi Long, Minister for Justice of Northern Ireland, attended the 11th annual Public Protection Advisory Group (PPAG) held in virtual format today, and hosted by the Probation Service.
The PPAG was established in 2006, with representatives of the police, probation and prison services and members of both Departments of Justice. The group was established to specially address how increased cross-border criminal justice co-operation could be taken forward and to implement the offender management and probation elements of the agreed work programme coming from the two Ministers.
Mark Wilson, Director of the Probation Service opened the seminar and noted that the annual gathering provided a valuable opportunity for all in the criminal justice agencies, policy makers and practitioners to come together to enhance co-operation and further develop capability by learning from each other in areas of mutual interest.
At the seminar the Minister said:
“The theme of this year’s seminar ‘Emerging Needs North and South- Developing Criminal Justice Practice’ will again, provide an opportunity for the various criminal justice agencies to discuss and further explore innovative approaches and solutions to common problems and in doing so contribute to making our communities safer by reducing crime and addressing offending behaviour.”
The Minister added:
“A cooperative, cross border approach results in better outcomes for all – by improving and coordinating the management and rehabilitation of offenders, we can contribute a further reduction in crime and victimisation.”
Minister McEntee acknowledged the extensive co-operation between the criminal justice agencies in attendance at the PPAG, including the Probation Service, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Irish Prison Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
The Minister noted:
“This seminar showcases three interesting, topical and varied themes including a joint presentation by the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service on ‘Working Together to Benefit Offenders and their Communities."
The Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Probation Board Northern Ireland on ‘Partnership Working Towards More Effective Resettlement’
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and An Garda Síochána on Cross Border Partnership between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána in the areas of ‘Human Trafficking, Organised Prostitution and Modern Slavery.”
The seventeenth edition of the Irish Probation Journal was also launched during the Seminar. The Journal has been jointly published each year since 2004, by the Irish Probation Service and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) and plays an important role in stimulating innovative thinking, providing a forum for debate and dialogue and promoting the sharing of good practice. Access the Journal.
The ‘Public Protection’ Advisory Group (PPAG) was established in 2006 to specifically address how increased cross-border criminal justice co-operation could be taken forward and to implement the offender management and probation elements of the agreed work programme coming from the two Ministers.
The PPAG is jointly chaired by the Director of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Director of the Probation Service.
The PPAG provides a formal structure for the engagement of both services and provides a platform to strengthen engagement with the other important stakeholders involved in the criminal justice systems both north and south. There is no doubt that the PPAG has demonstrated that co-operation and communication between agencies and across jurisdictions, can play a very important role in making communities safer throughout the island of Ireland.
The annual PPAG seminar provides a valuable forum for bringing representatives together from both our jurisdictions: -from police, prisons, probation and government departments, so that we can share experience and methods of working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, in our communities.
It is an opportunity to share best practice and learning, have the debate and discussion from a variety of perspectives which no doubt enriches and strengthens relationships across borders and across organisations.
This year’s seminar, “Emerging Needs North and South – Developing Criminal Justice Practice” provides an opportunity for the various agencies for discussion and to further explore innovative approaches and solutions to common challenges and in doing so contribute to making our communities safer by reducing crime and addressing offending behaviour.