Chief Executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) Cheryl Lamont has paid tribute to her colleagues and family after being recognised for her work in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. The New Year Honours list for 2020 recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. Cheryl Lamont was appointed Deputy Director of PBNI in 2007 and interim Director in 2013, before being appointed as Chief Executive in November 2016. She is also a recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship and is a qualified social worker.
Cheryl Lamont was speaking after becoming Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Ms Lamont said: “I am humbled and delighted to be the recipient of this award which recognises not only my role, but the work of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. I would like to pay tribute to the colleagues that I have worked with in probation over the last 35 years and justice over the past 37 years. Those men and women have worked tirelessly to make Northern Ireland safer and prevent people becoming victims of crime. I am very lucky to have worked with such dedicated and committed public servants. I am proud to lead an organisation which works in every community delivering services that reduce reoffending and rehabilitate people.”
She added: “I also want to thank my partner and family for their invaluable support over many years. Indeed, that support alongside strong family values of community and helping others in need, have greatly assisted me on my chosen career path.”
Ms Lamont also wanted to pay tribute to colleagues across the Criminal Justice Sector with whom she has worked in partnership with. She said: “Working in partnership with colleagues in Ireland, Great Britain and across the rest of Europe has been a very important part of my role and I want to thank justice leaders for their support over many years.”
Congratulating Cheryl Lamont on her award, Chairman of the Probation Board Dale Ashford added: “This is a wonderful recognition of Cheryl’s leadership of PBNI and contribution to criminal justice in Northern Ireland. Over the last number of years Cheryl has played a key role in ensuring PBNI leads the way and innovates within the criminal justice system. The Probation Board and staff are delighted that Cheryl has been recognised with this richly deserved honour.”
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.
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.
On 12 and 13 November 2025, CEP Secretary General Jana Špero Kamenjarin participated in the Multilateral Meeting on Women in Prison: Advancing Gender-Sensitive Policies and Practices, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The meeting brought together representatives from 40 member states, penitentiary administrations, and international experts, united by a shared commitment to improving rehabilitation, reducing re-offending, and promoting gender equality in places of deprivation of liberty.
This book, Forensic Social Work – Supporting Desistance, has been released by Routledge. It is a practice-oriented resource exploring how forensic social work can support desistance and foster meaningful change in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
The 16th episode of Division_Y features Stephan Leißner, a public probation and parole officer at the Coburg Regional Court in Bavaria, Germany.
