Probation's Equality Scheme is a statement of the Board’s commitment to fulfilling its statutory obligations in compliance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Act places a duty on public authorities to have ‘due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations’.
Our Equality Scheme outlines a plan for the more effective mainstreaming of equality issues within Probation, thus ensuring that equality is central to all policy development and decision-making within the Board.
Probation recognises the importance of the statutory duties placed upon us and has impressed upon our staff the need for the promotion of equality and good relations.
The priority attached to the Scheme is also reflected in Probation's commitment to the allocation of necessary resources in terms of people, time and money to ensure that the statutory duties are effectively complied with.
Equality and Section 75
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was intended to transform the practices of government and public authorities so that equality of opportunity and good relations are central to policy making and implementation. It requires Probation and all other public bodies in Northern Ireland to have an Equality Scheme that describes our arrangements for ensuring that we promote equality of opportunity and good relations.
You can submit your views on consultations
Probation will publish in advance a list of policies that we are currently considering reviewing or developing. Any member of the public may contact Probation and express an interest in becoming a consultee.
As a consultee you will be contacted when we are ready to commence work on the policy and you will be afforded an opportunity to express your views in relation to the potential equality impacts of the policy.
Equality Impact Screenings and Screening Reports
Under Probation's Equality Scheme we are committed to ensuring that there is public consultation on policy matters and therefore we publish our equality impact screenings to keep our consultees up to date with the latest policy developments.
Read our published Equality Impact Screenings and Equality Screening Reports
If you would like
- to comment on a specific policy screening or receive a copy of the draft policy; or
- to be added to our list of consultees
Contact Probation via email at equality@probation-ni.gov.uk or by telephone at 028 90522522.
Documents can be provided in a variety of formats dependent on your communication needs.
Information about equality within Probation
The following documents provide information about equality, disability and other issues.
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Probation's Equality Scheme
- Disability Action Plan 2020-2023
- Equality and Good Relations Action Plan 2020 to 2022
We are also in the process of updating our Equality and Good Relations Action Plan, and our Disability Action Plan.
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland has updated its Equality Scheme. We have also updated our Equality Consultee List. If you would like to be added to our Equality Consultee List, contact equality@probation-ni.gov.uk
If you would like to contact us regarding our Equality Scheme or the current action plans, or any aspect of the promotion of equality, please contact us by email equality@probation-ni.gov.uk
We also provide a range of services in appropriate formats including other languages and braille.
Useful links
Equality Commission NI website