Norfolk Probation Board is made up of an appointed Chair, Graham Bull, and seven other non-executive members selected from the local community.
Norfolk Probation Board members bring with them a range of skills coupled with broad based business experience from the public and private sectors. In addition, the board has as members His Honour Judge Simon Barham, who is directly appointed by the Lord Chancellor, and the Chief Officer for Norfolk Probation, Martin Graham.
Probation boards derived statutory status on 1 April 2001 under section 4 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. They have responsibility for providing probation services within their areas, subject to the directions of the Secretary of State for Justice.
The Board holds regular public meetings throughout the year to establish strategy and monitor performance. The work of the board includes:
- Ensuring that it is a good employer for the service’s staff
- Ensuring that public funds are appropriately spent on high quality probation services
- Setting out the strategy for the work of the service
- Approving the Area Business Plan which takes account of national priorities and local need, the Annual Report and the Statement of Accounts
- Monitoring performance against the Business Plan and national performance measures
- Approving the budget and monitoring financial management
- Contracting with other organisations to provide additional services such as education, employment and mentoring for offenders
As well as being responsible and accountable for probation services in the local area the Board carries out the following roles:
- To represent the interests of the local community
- To raise awareness of the effectiveness of community-based sentences
- To forge links and partnerships with other organisations
- To increase confidence in the work of the probation area
