The Dorset Justice Awards 2009
The Dorset Criminal Justice Awards 15th October 2009
The awards ceremony took place at The Dorford Centre on the 15th October. Over a 100 people attended to see a total of 43 people receive awards either as part of a team or as an individual.
Areas of work recognised at the special ceremony at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester, included working with offenders, engaging the local community, tackling youth crime and working with victims and witnesses.
John Wiseman, chair of the Dorset Criminal Justice Board, presented the seventeen award winning teams and individuals with their well-deserved awards and was extremely impressed with this year’s award winning work. He said: “The standard of award winners this year has been excellent. This award ceremony has given us the opportunity to recognise some of the committed and dedicated people that work and volunteer in our criminal justice system. The hard work and enthusiasm of our staff helps us to bring offenders to justice, care for victims and witnesses and work to rehabilitate offenders and reduce their likelihood of re-offending.”
The overall award for Outstanding Achievement in 2009 was presented to the PE Team from HMP The Verne Portland for the team’s continued commitment, during the past fourteen years, to delivering real qualifications which have transformed the lives of the men who have undertaken the levels one, two and three of the NVQ in the associated disciplines of Physical Education. A quote from the citation read out states that in the past calendar year the team have successfully facilitated 155 accredited units at level one in Sports and Recreation, Allied Occupation. The resulting achievement was 25 men gaining the full level one award. The competition for the Level 2 Exercise and Fitness course is fierce, as some of the men have achieved a qualification, for the first time in their lives. The team successfully delivered 40 accredited units at this level, which resulted in 8 candidates gaining the full award over another three month period. Whilst delivering these two qualifications the team were assisted by two men who were completing the
NVQ Level 3, Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise. The team supported the pair for the duration of the course and as a result of the teams dedication both men achieved the award. It is believed they are the only establishment in the Service that is teaching to that level.
Other award winners included Tim Dent and Anna Harvey for the individual award for commitment to diversity for the work they undertook in education of police officers, police staff, PCSOs and partner agencies in the needs of the Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual and
Transgender Communities. Tim identified the key areas, which would assist in achieving the objectives required. They devised a full days training in order to discuss LGBT issues which took place in the Triangle area in Bournemouth.
Marina Scott who works as a Communications Officer for Dorset Police won the individual award for engaging local communities to recognise the extremely effective work she undertook to inform the local community about how the Criminal Justice System will support victims of Domestic Violence.
David Lofts from Dorset Probation was awarded for his work on the Gateway Project, which is designed to ensure that there is now a single point of referral and placement for offenders in need of accommodation . The success of the Gateway in 
placing offenders and helping to develop appropriate services has also reduced the likelihood of re-offending and thus increased public safety.
Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Derek Radley from Victim Support. In April 2008, Derek began to give a series of talks to local 6th form students about Victim Support, their personal safety and how they can access help and support should they ever need it.
Through Derek’s enthusiasm and commitment, these talks developed with the Head Teachers to reinforce safety messages to students who were due to leave home for the first time. Derek has spoken to at least 1500 pupils and the feedback from students and teachers has been excellent.
The individual award for outstanding achievement in caring for victims and witnesses went to Claire Masser who joined Dorset Police in 2004 as a Witness Care Officer. Since this time Claire has supported many victims and witnesses of crime preparing them for giving evidence in court. She has utilised her previous experience as a police officer, a custody detention
officer and an enquiry officer, bringing these skills into her current role, making her an excellent Witness Care officer. She has built up strong links with our partner agencies, regularly making suggestions to improve the performance of the unit. Claire presents to student officer and detective trainee days, explaining the function of the Witness Care Unit on how it offers support to victims and witnesses in court cases.
The Long Service Award went to Divisional Officer Bob Fowler from Dorset Police Special Constabulary who has served at Bridport since 1992. He has during this time worked on tacking Anti Social Behaviour with Operation Sefton – Do you know where your kids
are? Bob utilises his extensive local community ties to the benefit of the Section. He has regularly diffused volatile situations due to his personal local contacts. He knows several of the local criminal families on a ‘generational’ basis and gains respect accordingly. Superintendent Dave Thorp from Dorset Police said, “Bob has put a lot of time and effort in assisting his regular colleagues and the public in the Bridport area and we are very grateful for what he has achieved.”
Other award winners went to Dorset Probation (The Pines and Western Approved Premises), Arrowhead Mine Project Buddens Farm, The Dorset Police Public Protection Unit for Op Maple, which worked towards reducing repeat incidents of Domestic Violence within the Bournemouth and Poole Conurbation, The Hate Crime Panel from Crown Prosecution Service and representatives from Poole Addictions Community Team, Dorset Youth Offending and Magna Housing.
Dorset’s Criminal Justice System is made up of staff working within Dorset Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, HM Courts Service, Dorset Probation Area, HM Prison Service, Dorset Youth Offending Team and Bournemouth & Poole Youth Offending Team. Volunteers within organisations such as Victim Support and the Witness Service can also be nominated for awards. Please look out for announcements regarding the Dorset Criminal Justice awards 2010.