As the Chairman of the Probation Board I would like to welcome you to the Teesside Probation Area website and to this page, which tells you briefly about the work we do.

The purpose of the Probation Board is to support and monitor the delivery of Probation Services in our area. Each of the 42 Probation areas in England and Wales has their own budget and each year the Board is responsible for agreeing an annual plan which reflects national objectives and which are deliverable locally.
The Board is made up of members recruited from the local community and who are from a range of backgrounds. Initially appointed for a period of up to three years after which they are eligible for re-appointment, for a further period of up to three years. No member appointed by the Secretary of State can serve on the Board for longer than six years in total. The Chief Officer of Teesside Probation is also a member of the Board.

The key responsibilities of the Board include:
• Overall strategic direction of the organisation within the framework determined by the Secretary of State.
• Operation within the limits of authority as agreed with the National Director and in accordance with conditions relating to the use of public funds.
• Reaching decisions that comply with directions given by the Secretary of State and that take into account any guidance give by him.
• The Board is also the employer of the local Probation Area staff that work in Teesside.

Mr Roy Hunter Martin - Chairman
Mr Martin was appointed as a member of the Probation Board in April 2007 and became the Chair of the Board in September 2009.

He brings a wealth of experience of the criminal justice system having held senior managerial posts within the Police Service for a number of years as well as serving 13 years as a Special Constable.

Mr Martin has contributed to local businesses as well as the local community over the last 20 years through his business activities and voluntary involvement in professional networks, community outreach services and medical charities.

He is currently Managing Partner with PPFA Limited, a North-East England based Human Resources Services provider serving the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in the North-East and throughout UK.

Mr Mark Whelan
Mr Whelan has been a Member of Teesside Probation Board since June 2008.  He was formerly a Fire Officer with Cleveland Fire Service for 32 years and Director of Operations for the last 7 years of service.  He currently lectures in leadership and management and is a Trustee of the Fire Support Network."

Mr Balbir Singh Thethi DL
Mr Thethi is an Architect with over 35 years experience in design, construction and contract management in both Local Authorities and Private Practices.  For 10 years he served as a board member of a national housing association.  He is a governor of Stokesley School, College of Technology and leads the campus development team.  Appointed DL (North Yorkshire and South Cleveland) in 2004, he has served for 26 years as a magistrate on Teesside Bench.  Particular interests include Criminal Justice System, Reform and rehabilitation of offenders.

His Honour Judge Antony Briggs
Circuit Judge at Teesside Combined Court Centre Middlesbrough, Probation Board Liaison judge for the Teesside area.

Vivienne Trenchard
Ms Trenchard is currently an elected Governor of Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust.  She is also a Governor of St Paulinus VA Primary School, chairs the school's Academic Performance and Quality Committee and is vice-chair of the Fundraising Committee.  She has pursued a career in 16+ education working in organisations ranging from universities to local authorities, specialising in quality assurance and adult basic skills, including promoting learning for adults with disabilities.  Ms Trenchard also spent some time as a development co-ordinator in training for safeguarding children.  She has particular interest in the development of the local community and achieving social inclusion for all.  Ms Trenchard is also a trustee at Guisborough Museum and a contributor to the Evening Gazette's Parents Panel.

David Godfrey
Mr Godfrey spent a career in Local Government before retiring 6 years ago from his last post as Assistant Director responsible for corporate administration at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

He is an appointed Magistrate on the Teesside Bench and an elected Governor of the North Tees & Hartlepool Foundation Trust.

With a specialist knowledge of elections, he has undertaken work as an advisor to three Parliamentary Select Committees and works as an elections consultant to Local Authorities and the Electoral Commission, for whom he has written procedural manuals and training lesson plans.  He has also been to ten Eastern European (CIS) and Balkan countries to monitor elections as a short and long term observer on behalf of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.