Police in Derry at the scene of the explosion at Probation Offices in Crawford Square in April 2015
PROBATION Board staff in Derry have been warned of an increase in the risk of attack they face from dissident republicans.
Trade union Nipsa said PBNI staff were advised of the threat at meetings in Derry, Belfast, Ballymena, Portadown and Maghaberry Prison on Friday morning.
The Probation Board NI said it was informed of the threat on Thursday and has worked closely with police over the past 24 hours.
The organisation said the risk “may be higher” for its employees living and working in republican areas.
“The PSNI will be providing advice on office security and personal security over the next period,” the board added.
Its chief executive, Cheryl Lamont, expressed “disappointment” that staff had been threatened while providing a public service.
“Everything we do is about protecting people and ensuring there are fewer victims of crime,” she said.
“Therefore it is extremely disappointing that we have been informed that the level of threat of attacks against PBNI has been assessed as having increased.”
The threat has been condemned by union representatives in NIPSA.
The union claimed senior PBNI management had said the security threat level “has increased from low/moderate to substantial” for staff in republican areas.
Nipsa’s general secretary, Alison Millar, said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms a threat against any worker but especially those providing an excellent public service for all our communities.
“I call on those responsible to withdraw this threat immediately and allow our members in probation to provide the valuable support necessary in rehabilitating offenders, many of whom have very complex needs.”
The PSNI said it “does not discuss the security of any individual or group”.
“If we receive information that someone may need to review their security, we will take steps to inform them accordingly,” added.a spokesperson.
It is not the first time the Probation Service has been targeted by dissident republicans.
In April 2015, a bomb exploded outside its Crawford Square offices in Derry.
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