Joining forces to make Cambridgeshire safer.
THE Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board brings together all of the county's criminal justice agencies to reduce crime and improve justice locally.
Whether you're a victim of crime, a witness, a juror or have been accused or convicted of a crime, this site's for you. If you have an interest in criminal justice, you should find plenty to keep you informed and entertained. Take a look around - there's plenty to explore!
Did you know...
... the chances of being a victim of crime are at their lowest in over 25 years?
You picked a site, we've put it right!
YOUNG PEOPLE referred to the Cambridgeshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) have given an ancient orchard a facelift in a bid to make good the harm they've caused by breaking the law.
Throughout June supervised teams of young people referred to YOS put down bark chips and cleared weeds at the Harston Community Orchard.
The orchard received the most votes in Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board’s pioneering “Pick a Site, We’ll Put it Right” youth reparation scheme.
For more information click here.
Our Kids Are Alright campaign has been praised in a report highlighting ways to improve public opinions of young people.
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has just published Positivity in Practise: approaches to improving perceptions of young people and their involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour.
The NFER, the country’s largest independent educational research organisation, praised our youth stereotype-busting Kids Are Alright campaign for changing public perceptions about young people and encouraging youth to speak out for themselves.
It also praised the campaign for its partnership work, commitment, creativity and enthusiasm.
Click here to read more about what the NFER said about The Kids Are Alright - or here to download the report.
Find us on Facebook!
The Kids Are Alright is now on Facebook! The campaign, which started in Fenland and is now taking off elsewhere, is due to go national in November.
To celebrate this, we've launched a Facebook page so that people can get involved in the campaign and keep up with latest developments.
To join our page go to Facebook and search for The Kids Are Alright.
Sentencing explained!
WHAT does it mean when someone's given a community order? What is Community Payback? What happens to lawbreakers when they're sentenced to prison?
These questions and more are answered in our new section, Sentencing Explained.
Click here to find out in plain English what sentences are available to judges and magistrates in our criminal courts.
Jailed!
Ever wondered what happens to people convicted of committing serious crimes?
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is publishing updates about criminals who've been jailed for breaking the law in Cambridgeshire. Click here to find out more.
Birthday breakdance bonanza packs Cambridge theatre
A CAMBRIDGE dance group gaining global kudos for its groundbreaking work celebrated its third birthday with a stunning display of its gravity-defying pieces.
Dance Offensive recently performed to a packed theatre at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. The show, called ‘Repertoire’, served up a funky fusion of hip hop, breakdance, capoiera, ballet and contemporary theatre.
Dance Offensive engages with hundreds of young people each year, delivering 15 hours of free classes each week. Its members include referrals from the Cambridgeshire Youth Offending Service.
Read all about it!
THE SPRING edition of Just News is out now!
Our front cover pays tribute to some of the incredible young people featured in our award-winning, youth stereotype-busting Kids Are Alright campaign. The project, highlighting postive contributions young people make to society, recently finished its first year in Fenland - and is now taking off in other parts of the country.
In this edition we also take a look at what happens to the minority of young people who do commit crime and find out what the youth justice system is all about.
On the subject of youth, we feature Dance Offensive, a high-flying Cambridge dance troupe whose members include Youth Offending Service referrals.
On a different topic, two brave abuse victims share their stories in the hope that they can help others escape sexual and domestic violence.
Just News is packed full of news and features from the frontline of Cambridgeshire's justice system.
Click here to download your electronic edition of Just News.
Want to know about crime where you live?
Check out CrimeMapper, a website providing you with regularly updated information on crime and antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood.
It tells you if crime has gone up or down where you live - and allows you to compare the latest information on a range of crime types with other neighbourhoods.
So whether you're concerned about robbery, burglary, violent crime, vehicle crime or antisocial behaviour, you can get up to date information and see if your area is better or worse than other similar areas - or other parts of your county.
To access CrimeMapper in Cambridgeshire click here.
Savings scheme to slash prisoner reoffending
A SAVINGS scheme with a difference is due to be piloted at Peterborough Prison this summer, aimed at reducing reoffending.
The six-year Social Impact Bond (SiB), run by social investment firm Social Finance, will help about 3000 prisoners serving less than 12 months to receive intensive help, both while at Peterborough Prison and in the community.
These will include mentoring support inside the prison, focusing on the individual needs of each prisoner. After release, participants will be given help with getting housing, employment and other services, such as substance addiction support.
If the scheme cuts reoffending by 7.5% or more, investors will receive a share of the longterm savings. If reoffending is not reduced by at least 7.5% the investors will receive no recompense.
For more information click here.
Crooks' cash benefits Cambridgeshire projects!
Four publicly nominated Cambridgeshire projects will benefit from a cash boost, thanks to an initiative that sees criminals’ ill-gotten gains reinvested into the community.
Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board chair Tom Jefford announced that three youth projects and a scheme helping elderly residents to protect their homes against burglars will receive Community Cashback grants totalling £95,000.
Over the summer people were invited to have their say on 16 shortlisted Community Cashback projects in Cambridgeshire. That feedback was taken into account when selecting grant recipients.
As a result the Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board will award Community Cashback grants to a Waterbeach youth club (£50,000), Soham Youth Café (£20,000), Stilton Sk8z (£15,000) and the Bobby Scheme (£10,000).
Click here to find out more.
Make your views known! Vote in our online polls!
Fox hunting should not be made legal, according to the majority of people who answered our last poll.
In 2004 it became illegal to hunt foxes.
62% of you are against the hunting ban being lifted, with 38% in favour of a law change to allow fox hunting.
In our latest poll we're asking: should smoking be banned in cars carrying children?
What do you think? Make your views known in our online polls.
Judge for yourself
Most of us have views about how criminals should be sentenced - but how easy is it to know which sentence to pass?
Meet fictional characters Mike and Barbara who, when approached by police for confronting a doorman at a Peterborough pub, are found carrying knives. How would you sentence them?
What are your views on Nigel Nicholson, caught driving in Wisbech Town Centre while disqualified for drink driving? How should John Smith be treated when pleading guilty to possessing class C drugs near Cambridge Railway Station with intent to supply?
Take a look at the facts - and have a go at advising a court!
On other parts of this website you can put your knowledge to the test with an interactive Criminal Justice quiz or vote in regular polls.
Want to make a real difference to your community? Check out our Justice Careers section - showing what it's really like to work on the frontline of Cambridgeshire's criminal justice system.
