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The sixteenth Public Protection Advisory Group (PPAG) seminar took place in the impressive surroundings of the Ulster University Belfast campus this year. The PPAG annual seminar is host to representatives from across criminal justice in Ireland North and South, to consider new and innovative practice and explore ways to further develop and increase partnership working. It was the turn of PBNI to host the event. Compered by Probation Head of Communications Gail McGreevy the seminar took place on Friday 28 November 2025.
Probation Chief Executive Amanda Stewart welcomed everyone to the event with a special word of thanks to all who had travelled from Dublin and further afield. The attendees included Probation Board members, staff from both Probation, police and prison services, and representatives from the community and voluntary sector.
During her opening speech, Chief Executive Amanda Stewart also took the opportunity to launch Volume 22 of the Irish Probation Journal. The Irish Probation Journal is a joint initiative of the Probation Service and Probation Board. Each article submitted is considered by an Editorial Committee composed of Probation Service, Probation Board staff and academics.
The event theme was 'Keeping Community at the heart of Criminal Justice' and saw speakers from the Probation Service, An Garda Siochana, Irish Prison Service, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Probation Board for Northern Ireland and Thompson House deliver presentations covering a range of pertinent subjects. The talks ranged from building pathways to bring Probation closer to communities, how An Garda Síochána involves the community, innovation through global and local connections, pathways for prisoners to reintegrate, and working with communities to support how we house those who have offended.
There was a question and answer session after each segment allowing attendees to add to the discourse and the seminar concluded with closing remarks from Una Doyle, Director (Acting) of the Probation Service.
The Public Protection Advisory Group (PPAG) which is jointly chaired by the Chief Executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Director of the Probation Service, organised this years' Seminar. The PPAG 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 Government.
