Patrick Frew is one of three Community Service Supervisors based in PBNI’s Ballymena Office covering the Coleraine, Ballymena, Antrim and Larne area. His role involves organising and supervising community service placements for people who have offended. Community Service Orders can range from 50 hours to 240 hours.
This article was first published by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI).
“It was hard to get placements during the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially Community Service was on hold however as part of the recovery plan we are now delivering community service again and being careful to socially distance.
“Part of my job is finding projects we can get involved in for long periods of time. Projects where we can work as a team, build each individual’s confidence and help make a difference. Some of the people in the squad are new to community service, others I have seen a few times. In my opinion it’s up to people like us to be accepting, hold people to account and through our actions show them the value of respect.
“Here in Cloughmills we have been working closely with Cloughmills Community Action Team (CCAT), helping local people with a small team of community service volunteers who have been active outdoors throughout the Pandemic. In the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis the community response was about making sure people had food and the squad assisted in delivering food parcels to vulnerable people. We worked with the Incredible Edible Project preparing and distributing Growing Packs for families and local people to promote healthy eating, the importance of positive mental health and well-being, during the lock-down. The Growing Packs contained compost and either wildflower seeds or mixed vegetable seeds for people to grow themselves at home. We also worked with the local pharmacy and a local restaurant to provide a delivery service for older members of the community and to those self-isolating. We have delivered hundreds of meals. This week we have been delivering live chickens for families to rear.
My priority now is ensuring all the squads are back to work in the community and able to continue to give back to people. In my experience community work happens when there is tragedy and communities start to pull together. I’m pleased that PBNI’s community service has been part of this.”
Patrick Frew is Chair of CCAT.
Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.
Interventions Alliance has published a new evaluation of a Hub coordinated on behalf of police forces in the south of England, focused on tackling violence against women and children through a whole family approach. The Hub supports victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse and works across policing, health and social services.
New updates from the European Commission highlight key priorities for judicial training in Europe, alongside new tools supporting transparency and access to data.
Today, 25 November, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. It is a global reminder, recognised by UNESCO and the wider international community, of the urgent need to prevent violence, support those affected by it, and strengthen collective action. The day also opens the 16 Days of Activism, a worldwide campaign that calls for sustained engagement to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
From 18-20 November 2025, 15th Plenary Meeting of the Council for Penological Co-operation took part in Council of Europe, Strasbourg. CEP was represented by President Annie Devos, Vice-Presidents Danijela Mrhar Prelic (PC-CP member) and Daniel Danglades and Secretary General Jana Spero Kamenjarin.
The CEP Expert Group on Mental Health met on 19 November 2025 to continue its work on developing a European mental health training curriculum for probation officers. Since last year, the group has been working intensively and meticulously to produce a solid first version of the curriculum.
CEP has released the first cross-European study examining stress, burnout, and morale among probation staff. The report was produced by Professor Charlie Brooker, Professor Karen Tocque, Professor Ioan Durnescu and Liliana Lupsica, whose combined expertise in public health, criminology, and organisational analysis provides an important contribution to our understanding of well-being in probation work.
