The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.
Recruitment
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The Parole Board has joined together with Operation Black Vote to hold a seminar aimed at raising awareness in the black and minority ethnic community and encouraging more applications from that community to become members of the Board.
The Civic Leadership Programme is a response to the current under-representation of the BME community amongst the membership of the Board. The Board has been in contact with OBV since 2005 and was pleased to gain the funding in the budget that enabled this initiative to go ahead. It is the latest in a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the issue, which was most recently raised by the National Audit Office. Operation Black Vote is a non-party political organisation that aims to encourage participation by the BME community in public life at all levels.
The day long event was held at the RIBA building in Portland Place, London, on 9 July 2008 and thanks to OBV attracted an attendance of around 120 that filled the seminar room to the point of bursting. Others who had wanted to attend had to be turned away prior to the seminar to make the size of the event manageable.
Simon Woolley, Director of OBV, opened up the seminar with a call to those present to become warriors for social justice. He also chaired proceedings throughout what turned out to be a very vibrant day with a constant buzz around the room.
Simon was followed by Parole Board judicial member Christopher Pitchers who welcomed participants on behalf of the Board and also introduced Justice Minister, Maria Eagle MP. The Minister spoke on behalf of the government to underline their commitment to improving diversity not just within the Parole Board, but right across the criminal justice system and setting the objective of reflecting the diversity of society with the CJS.
Parole Board Chief Executive, Christine Glenn, then addressed the seminar, outlining the background to parole and the work of the Parole Board, but also expressing her delight that after more than two years of planning the event was finally taking place to such a packed house.
The rest of the day was taken up with sessions led by a number of Parole Board members, including a practice decision based around the case study of a sex offender that generated some very interesting discussions at the tables and information about the recruitment and training of members.
To close, the seminar heard from three BME community members who are already working in public office, including Lambeth Council and the Metropolitan Police Authority, about their own personal and inspirational stories.
As a follow up to the seminar OBV and the Parole Board are arranging a panel observation programme for 48 participants who have decided that they are interested in applying to join the Board. The observation programme will include an oral hearing, a paper panel and a probation officer meeting.
When the next recruitment round for independent members takes place, which it is hoped will be in February 2009, applications will be invited from those who have taken any part in the Civic Leadership Programme. If they do decide to apply their applications will be considered alongside all others, using exactly the same process and to exactly the same standards.
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