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Sex offenders: Probation Board for Northern Ireland issues warning on budget cuts Sex offenders: Probation Board for Northern Ireland issues warning on budget cuts
(about 1 hour later)
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland has said that resources to manage serious sexual and violent offenders will be reduced as a result of proposed budget cuts.The Probation Board for Northern Ireland has said that resources to manage serious sexual and violent offenders will be reduced as a result of proposed budget cuts.
It said it would meet on Friday to discuss a proposed 12% decrease in its budget allocation.It said it would meet on Friday to discuss a proposed 12% decrease in its budget allocation.
Chair of the board, Vilma Patterson, said this would change how it carried out its business.Chair of the board, Vilma Patterson, said this would change how it carried out its business.
She said it would have an impact on how offenders were managed.She said it would have an impact on how offenders were managed.
"In the last number of months, we have had to change our practice as a result of staffing pressures. For example, the level of contact with most offenders has been decreased, and our service to victims will be impacted," she said."In the last number of months, we have had to change our practice as a result of staffing pressures. For example, the level of contact with most offenders has been decreased, and our service to victims will be impacted," she said.
"We will now have to reduce our contribution to a range of multi-agency partnerships including those which manage offenders who have committed certain serious sexual and violent offences."We will now have to reduce our contribution to a range of multi-agency partnerships including those which manage offenders who have committed certain serious sexual and violent offences.
"Previously, the Criminal Justice Inspectorate found that PBNI's financial and staffing contribution to the multi-agency arrangements in place to manage serious sexual and violent offenders far outweighed its caseload in this area. In future, the resources we supply to this critical area of work will have to be reduced."Previously, the Criminal Justice Inspectorate found that PBNI's financial and staffing contribution to the multi-agency arrangements in place to manage serious sexual and violent offenders far outweighed its caseload in this area. In future, the resources we supply to this critical area of work will have to be reduced.
"Public safety remains our priority, but we would be remiss if we did not highlight the risks to preventing reoffending and reducing crime which may arise from such significant cuts to our budget.""Public safety remains our priority, but we would be remiss if we did not highlight the risks to preventing reoffending and reducing crime which may arise from such significant cuts to our budget."
Pam Hunter, chief executive of the charity Nexus, said she was "deeply concerned" the board "may have fewer resources to dedicate to this area of work".
"As an organisation representing victims and survivors of sexual violence we have seen at first hand the positive impact of probation programmes and probation officers' specialist skills in helping prevent reoffending," she said.
"Successful rehabilitation of offenders will mean fewer victims. Unfortunately without sufficient investment in probation services there is the potential that there will be more victims of crime for which there is already limited funding also."
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice warned that proposed cuts to its budget would have a "severely detrimental impact" on policing.
It also said it would affect Troubles investigations, prisons, and result in fewer probation officers, reducing "the ability to monitor offenders".