Justice Minister announces Probation Board for Northern Ireland appointment
Date published:
Justice Minister Naomi Long has announced that Dr Brian Payne has been appointed as a Board Member to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.
The current Board was appointed following an open competition regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland and the term of office for the Board commenced on the 1 March 2025 for a three-year period. The current constitution of the Board consists of a Board Chair and 11 other Board members. Dr Payne will become the 12th Board member, and his appointment will tie in with the current constitution period for the Board.
Announcing the appointment, Naomi Long said:
“I would like to welcome Brian to the to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. I have no doubt that his experience and expertise will enable him to make an important contribution in supporting PBNI in its crucial role in rehabilitation, reducing reoffending and reintegration of individuals into the community along with helping to make communities safer. I wish him well in the role.”
Board Member – Dr Brian Payne
Dr Brian Payne is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Subject Lead for Criminology at Ulster University. His primary research interests lie in the areas of restorative justice, policing, and transnational organised crime. Brian has conducted extensive funded research with community restorative justice projects, police and justice agencies and associated stakeholders across the UK and Ireland. Brian holds a PhD in Criminology and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice both from Queen’s University Belfast. He is heavily involved in policy work and sits on several working groups including the Restorative Justice Council Research Advisory Group, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Restorative Justice, the Department of Justice NI’s Restorative Justice Working Group and the Probation Board NI Research Advisory Group.
Political Activity: none.
Notes to editors:
1. The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) established by the Probation Board (NI) Order 1982. The Board is tasked with providing an adequate and efficient probation service and is responsible for determining its policy within the broad parameters set by Government and for monitoring the service’s performance against objectives.
2. The main activities of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland are: the supply of information to the courts through pre-sentence reports; the supervision of offenders made subject to community disposals; and the provision of social welfare services in prisons. The Board also funds community initiatives aimed at supporting the statutory supervision of offenders in the community.
3. Appointments to the Board are made by the Minister of Justice in accordance with Schedule 1 of the 1982 Order. Statutorily, the Board must consist of a Chair, Deputy Chair and not less than 10 nor more than 18 other members. The remuneration for the post of Chair is £33,010 per annum and for a Board Member, it’s £5,050 per annum.
4. This appointment had been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process, however, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.
5. Details of the Board of the Probation Board membership is as follows:
- Glenn Houston (Chair)
- Kerry Anthony MBE
- David Bowden
- Maureen Brunt
- Ken Cameron
- Denise Hunt
- Brian Ingram
- Jackie Johnston CBE
- Maynard Mawhinney
- Gemma McKeown
- Bria Mongan OBE
- Eileen Patterson
- Brian Payne
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