merrion street

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter TD, and

Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford MLA, today opened the

third annual Cross-Border Public Protection Seminar.

The seminar held today brings together representatives from police, prison

and probation services and the Justice Departments North and South to

consider what works in preventing offending and keeping communities safer.

The event provides opportunities to share good practice and to explore ways

to increase awareness of new initiatives.

Speaking at the Seminar, Minister Shatter said “The theme of this year’s

seminar is “Partnership Working for Public Protection”. There are clear

examples of partnership working across both Justice sectors on the island

of Ireland. They include co-ordinated strategic responses to dealing with

crime; the effective use of data-sharing; good communication and joint

working; and how the police, prison and probation services work in

partnership to achieve common goals.

The presentations today showcase inter-agency and cross-Border good

practice in the management of offenders in our communities.”

Minister Ford said: "Preventing offending and delivering safer communities

is a goal that is shared both north and south. I therefore welcome the

very positive working relationship that exists at a strategic, policy and

operational level between our two jurisdictions.

"We have seen this cooperation through a number of practical steps

including joint protocols, shared learning and training and the adoption of

common assessment tools.

"I welcome this proactive exchange of information and experiences between

justice bodies north and south, focusing on a collaborative approach to

reducing offending behaviour and crime."

The two Ministers also took the opportunity to discuss North-South

co-operation across a range of criminal justice matters. The Ministers

re-emphasised their determination to ensure the highest level of

cross-border co-operation in the justice area. Among the areas which the

Ministers discussed were ongoing joint-working with regard to the

management of young offenders and the all-island impact of EU-level,

justice measures.

Referring to the ongoing co-operation between both jurisdictions, Minister

Shatter said: “Across communities and creeds people have chosen a brighter

future based on democracy, mutual respect and co-operation.

The co-operation evident among the practitioners gathered here today is

just one example of this new approach within the criminal justice sector.”

Minister Ford said: "There is a high-level of cross-border co-operation

between the various criminal justice agencies and I'm committed to ensuring

that it remains in place.

"The sharing of knowledge and expertise has resulted in positive progress

on a number of criminal justice issues.

"As Justice Minister, I remain committed to working in close co-operation

with Ministers from all neighbouring jurisdictions to make Northern Ireland

a safer place to live."

Speaking at the Seminar the Director of the Probation Service Vivian Geiran

said:

"We achieve positive outcomes when we build and develop strong, positive

relationships with each other; and when we put in place the right

structures to facilitate joint action. The PPAG is a vehicle through which

we have collectively built relationships and structures to enhance our

co-operation.

The presentations at today's seminar challenge us to reflect critically on

our interventions, practices, and how we go about our work; and they

encourage us to build and further develop the relational and structural

foundations for even further collaboration, well into the future."

The Director of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, Brian McCaughey

reiterated the level of practical co-operation that is ongoing between the

two probation services. He said: “At a practical level probation officers

north and south work together to share expertise and experience, to

consider trends that might impact on each jurisdiction and explore

opportunities for collaboration in the future. At all times the work we do

is focused on making all communities safer and ensuring that those who

offend are held to account.

We know that probation works. We know that those who are engaged in

probation are less likely to offend in future. We will continue to ensure

that through our combined efforts Ireland – north and south is a safer

place”

23 November 2012

ENDS

Note for Editors

1. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice

Matters provides a framework for increasing and enhancing co-operation on

criminal justice matters. Within the framework of the Agreement, the two

Ministers oversee co-operation across the range of areas in the criminal

justice field.

2. There is ongoing and structured North-South interaction and

co-operation with regard to public protection, forensic science, youth

justice, victims’ issues, managing registered offenders and social

diversity issues.

3. The development and enhancement of co-operation under the Agreement is

taken forward by a number of Advisory Groups. The Public Protection

Advisory Group [PPAG], which is jointly chaired by the Director of the

Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Director of the Probation

Service, has organised today's Seminar. This public protection group was

established in 2006 to specifically address how increased cross-border

co-operation could be taken forward and to implement the probation elements

of the agreed work programme coming from Ministers.