“Credit to the Community” Accrington Probation Officer retires
11 Mar 2010
One of Hyndburn’s longest serving Probation Officers is retiring. Christine Crawshaw has worked with the probation service for over 30 years. Spending 15 of those years serving the people of Hyndburn as an experienced Probation Officer with Lancashire Probation Trust.
Coming to Lancashire from Yorkshire in 1988, she has seen Probation change over the years and has experienced many different roles during her time: from helping rehabilitate drug users to training Bulgarian Probation Officers when they joined the European Union, one aspect of all those jobs has always attracted Christine – the people.
“Every day is different. Working with my colleagues, our partners and the offenders themselves – so many different circumstances, so many personalities and situations. I love working with other people because they’re always interesting. But I don’t help people; I encourage people to help themselves. When you see an offender in court, when they meet you in the office – most of them are unhappy with their behaviour. I give them the ways, the opportunity, to help themselves.”
But even though every person is different she’s come to realise that the nature of their crimes hasn’t changed: “How we deal with those crimes has changed, but the type of offenders I see have been more or less constant.”
Linda Lock, Area Director for Lancashire Probation spoke warmly about Christine’s exemplary career: “Over the years, Christine has helped many people to become law abiding members of the community. She has worked with countless offenders and it will be sad to see her go. Her work has been a credit to the service and we all wish her well.”
Speaking on behalf of everyone at Inward House, a drug rehabilitation charity partnered with Lancashire Probation, Larna McLoughlin praised the time Christine Crawshaw had spent working with them: “She’s a brilliant probation officer who always goes beyond what’s required of her. A great role model to the younger probation officers, Christine will be sadly missed.”
Not working will give Christine plenty of free time to fill and she intends to do just that by pursuing her hobbies or cooking, swimming and travelling – plans to take a holiday in Greece are already underway.
She says: “I’ve worked with Hyndburn for 15 years and I’ve enjoyed all of my time here; working with so many interesting faces. I’ll miss the job, but I’m looking forward to having more free time to fill with my hobbies.”
