On Thursday, 15 May 2025, CEP attended the 50th anniversary symposium of the International Bureau (Bureau Buitenland) of the Dutch Probation Service (Reclassing Nederland), held at “De Lik” in Utrecht. Although the International Bureau is relatively young compared to the Dutch Probation Service with over 200 years of history, it has developed a solid track record through its international focus and strong commitment to working with volunteers. More about their work can be found at www.bureau-buitenland.nl
The day offered a diverse and thoughtful programme, including talks by Jeroen Roodenburg (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Margarita Potseluiko (Center of Probation in Ukraine), and intervention specialist Samuël Reiziger. There were also personal experiences shared by volunteers, music by Gerson Main, and a series of breakout sessions that encouraged discussion and reflection.
As part of the event, the International Bureau hosted a booth introducing the CoPPer project. They shared information about its aims and activities, and encouraged participants to get involved. This was a valuable opportunity to connect the project with a wider audience and underline its potential impact, both for volunteers and for probation systems across Europe. The symposium concluded with the launch of the International Bureau’s new logo and website, marking the start of a new phase in their ongoing work.
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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.
