Published date:
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (the Act) requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions relating to Northern Ireland, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations across a range of categories outlined in the Act.
In our Equality Scheme, we set out how the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) proposes to fulfil the Section 75 statutory duties.
PBNI continues to commit to ensuring the necessary resources in terms of people, time, and money to make sure that the Section 75 statutory duties are complied with and that the Equality Scheme is implemented effectively, and on time.
PBNI has effective internal arrangements in place for ensuring compliance with the Section 75 statutory duties and for monitoring and reviewing progress.
PBNI will develop and deliver a new programme of communication and training with the aim of ensuring that all staff and Board members are made fully aware of PBNI’s Equality Scheme and understand the commitments and obligations within it. PBNI will develop a programme of awareness-raising for consultees on the Section 75 statutory duties and the commitments contained in the Equality Scheme .
The Probation Board Chair and the Chief Executive are fully committed to effectively fulfilling Section 75 statutory duties across all functions (including service provision, employment and procurement) through the effective implementation of the PBNI Equality Scheme .
PBNI’s Equality Scheme demonstrates how determined we are to ensure there are opportunities, for people affected by our work, to positively influence how we carry out our functions in line with Section 75 statutory duties. It also offers the means whereby persons directly affected by what they consider to be a failure, on PBNI’s part, to comply with its Equality Scheme, can make complaints.
PBNI Equality Scheme has been drawn up in accordance with Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Equality Commission guidelines.
Published December 2023