Essex Justice Awards

Essex Criminal Justice Board is dedicated to delivering improvements across all aspects of the criminal justice system in the county.

It's success in doing so is dependent on the direction and committment of the people who work in the different criminal justice agencies and partner organisations who work alongside them.

Each year the Office for Criminal Justice Reform seeks out those who have "gone the extra mile" for the national Justic Awards, and in Essex we wish to acknowledge all those who have been nominated locally for these awards.

Essex Justice Awards 2009

Local awards of Excellence and Commendation were presented by BBC Essex radio presenter, Sadie Nine, and citations were read by Chief Crown Prosecutor Ken Caley, Chair of Essex Criminal Justice Board.

For outstanding commitment to diversity:

Morina Pierre, Diversity Manager at HMP Chelmsford, received a Certificate of Excellence, having identified and trained a number of prisoners to act as diversity representatives, working closely with staff in carrying out their duties thoughout the day. Morina has been the driving force with the Immigration Service to establish regular clinics to provide face-to-face interviews with prisoners and provide regular updated information for their cases. She has taken the initiative to establish links with Foreign Embassies to ensure there are regular visits and support mechanisms in place for foreign nationals in custody at Chelmsford. By helping foreign prisoners, many of who are frightened, uncertain of their future and suspicious of the penal system, she has prevented indiscipline and lowered the risk of self-harm. She organised a wide range of activities during Diversity Week, the highlight of which was a wheelchair basketball team, who held a coaching clinic for prisoners before engaging in a series of games. The level of awareness of the problems faced by wheelchair users was increased significantly. Perhaps more importantly the level of awareness of the abilities of wheelchair users was raised for prisoners and staff.

Morina was also a runner-up in the national finals.

For outstanding commitment to caring for victims:

Nicola Furbank – A Volunteer Supporter with the NSPCC’s Essex Young Witness Project, received a Certificate of Excellence. Nicola has been directly responsible for supporting many young victims aged between 6 and 17 years within the county. In May this year Nicola was instrumental in supporting two teenaged siblings who were fearful of attending court to give evidence. One suffered panic attacks and on the day of the trial fainted. Nicola was able to help her overcome her anxiety by reminding her of the relaxation and stress management techniques covered in the earlier preparation sessions. Feedback from young victims suggests that the support Nicola provided helped them feel more confident and better prepared for court.

Jane Dewitt – Business Change Manager, Probation Service, received a Certificate of Commendation. A significant amount of Jane’s own time is invested ensuring that : perpetrators of crime are referred to the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA); Spousal Assault Risk Assessments are completed and women are referred to the Women’s Safety Officers. Jane has gone the extra mile in her commitment to protecting the public from harm and promoting equality for all in all the roles she has held with Essex Probation.
Tricia Leary - is also a Volunteer Supporter with the Essex Young Witness Project, received a Certificate of Commendation for directly supporting many young victims, including those with mental health problems and rape victims who would be particularly vulnerable without the support offered. Tricia actively supports the training of new volunteers. She has received very positive feedback from young victims and parents, as well as from court staff involved in the cases.

For outstanding achievement in working with offenders:

Greg Pryme - A Senior Prison Officer at HMP Chelmsford, received a Certificate of Excellence. Greg’s approach to management of difficult prisoners is widely recognised as a model of best practice throughout the establishment. He established firm parameters of behaviour for those in his charge and firmly challenges and rewards behaviour as appropriate. The levels of violence and anti-social behaviour on his win have reduced as has the level of self-harm among prisoners.

Christopher Rowe – An offender manager with the Probation Service in Essex, received a Certificate of Commendation. Chris has speedily developed great competence with high-risk offenders, having worked with a number at the local Approved Premises. Chris has earned praise for his skills for many difficult cases, including that of a prisoner - jailed for threats to kill his ex-partner and another man as well as possession of firearms -who was moved from another county because of potential threats to two victims. Throughout his sentence he had shown no empathy and made further threats. All MAPPA agencies were concerned about the risk he posed, his compliance with parole and his manageability. Chris managed to find ways to make the offender accept all the conditions imposed on him, and understand the consequences of not complying. Empathy for the offender’s ex-partner was gradually improved, to the extent that the licence period was completed without breach, and harm to two victims avoided.

For outstanding contribution to engaging with communities:

Ian Elkins, Crown Advocate with the Crown Prosecution Service, received a Certificate of Excellence for showing consistent dedication to engaging communities. He is the lead for CPS in Essex in Football Hooliganism and Anti-social Behaviour Orders, as well as for race and diversity issues. He also has responsibility for the hate crime scrutiny panels. Ian has most recently become involved in the community prosecutor work, with the aim of becoming more attuned to the concerns of the community. Much of his community work is undertaken in his own time.
Michael Tyler, Prison Officer at HMP Chelmsford, received a Certificate of Excellence, having taken responsibility to engage with families of staff and the local community in the work of the modern day prison service, whilst also working tirelessly to maintain historical links with the past.

Long Service Awards for continued dedication and commitment to the criminal justice system for more than 20 years:

Francoise Cooper, Legal Adviser and Justices’ Training Manager with HM Courts Service, received a Certificate of Excellence. Francoise joined Essex Magistrates’ Courts in 1985 as a trainee court clerk. Over the next two decades she held a variety of roles, all focused around providing excellent legal advice in court and training to fellow lawyers and magistrates. Since 2000 Francoise has been the Justices’ Training Manager for the whole for the whole of the Essex area, providing newly appointed magistrates with the knowledge, skills and judicial approach to enable them to discharge their judicial duties. Throughout her career Francoise has trained and supported several hundred magistrates. Largely due to her work, all magistrates are now able, within their first two years of office, to attend a domestic violence conference and gain an understanding of the issues through hearing survivors of domestic violence, as well as refuge workers, CPS, Police, Domestic Violence officers and Probation. In 2004 Francoise was seconded to the Judicial Studies Board to assist in the compilation of materials for the national legal adviser training programme. There is no doubt that through her work, Francoise has been a major contributor to the quality of justice dispensed within Essex, and is well respected and admired by colleagues, magistrates and the Area Director, as well as those working at the Women’s Refuge.
Barbara Holmes, Operations Manager in the Criminal Justice Department of Essex Police, received a Certificate of Commendation. Barbara has demonstrated an exemplary degree of dedication and commitment to her duties in support of operational police officers and the public of Essex since first joining Essex Police in 1979. In 1995 Barbara wrote an innovative policy which led, for the first time, to support being provided to next-of-kin throughout court hearings involving fatalities. In January 2000 she was seconded to a joint agency project and played a pivotal role in the introduction of co-located Police/CPS units to Essex. In 2003 she became a major player in a local joint-agency implementation team which planned and implemented changes to the management of summary trial cases, which once again attracted complimentary recognition of her approach. Her latest achievement is the delivery of the Streamlined File Process to Essex in June 2009. Throughout her service, while she has increasingly played a strategic role, she has never lost her personal touch and the support of her staff is pivotal to her success as a manager. Barbara is due to retire in October this year.

For Volunteer of the Year:

Peter Hathaway, a Volunteer with SOVA – Supporting Others through Volunteer Action – has been a volunteer for ten years and received a Certificate of Excellence. A retired magistrate, and friend of the Probation Service, he has been nominated by Carol Parker, who describes him as “the most conscientious and active volunteers I have known through my years in the Probation Service. He is willing to take any tasks, however large or small, and although he is now 80 years old, he turns up, hail, rain or snow.” He bases himself at Grays’ Probation Office, regularly there on Tuesdays and Thursdays, inducting new volunteers and linking them with Offender Managers. Peter has worked with difficult offenders and helped them to improve their lives. He engages well with offenders and seems able to ease their passage through probation, assisting in all manner of welfare tasks that are no longer appropriate for offender managers to undertake. Volunteers are an important part of the Probation Service in Essex, and Peter has the highest reputation among his colleagues at Grays.
John Turnbull, Special Police Constable with Essex Police since March 1999 received a Certificate of Commendation. His nominator was Special Sergeant Dawn Burton, who praised John for his effectiveness in reducing the number of outstanding warrants, by ensuring that every person wanted on a warrant received a visit within seven days of the warrant being issued. John’s effectiveness can be measured by the reduction in the number of warrants, as well as from the praise and recognition from regular police colleagues.

Team nomination for outstanding achievment in caring for victims:

For outstanding achievement in caring for victims

A Certificate of Excellence was awarded to Victim Support Peer Mentor teams from: Sir Charles Lucas School, Colchester; St Marks RC School, Harlow; Greensward Academy, Hockley and The James Hornsby School, Laindon. They have also been recognised as “Team of the Year” in the national volunteer awards ceremony for Victim Support.

There are currently 80 peer mentors working in teams in four schools in the county providing support to fellow students using the Victim Support Volunteer model, of providing emotional support, information and advocacy. The Peer Mentors are carefully selected after attending an interview, and receive comprehensive training by Victim Support in active listening skills, appropriate questioning techniques, coping strategies, methods of exploring options, empathy, genuineness and respect. The mentors support young people who experience bullying, peer pressure, low self-esteem, confidence issues, anger, living with domestic abuse, friendship issues, fear of crime as well as being a victim of crime directly or indirectly. During the academic year 2008-09 the Peer Mentors supported a total of 315 young people. Six mentees from previous years have become Mentors this year, directly as a result of the help they received. Feedback from Mentors has demonstrated that many of them feel it has helped them deal with their own issues, learn coping strategies and, in some cases, help to identify their career path. Feedback from mentees demonstrates the effectiveness of young people supporting young people.

For outstanding achievement in caring for witnesses

A Certificate of Excellence was awarded to the Essex Young Witness Project – Volunteer Young Witness Supporters who work predominantly with children required to give evidence in Crown Court trials in cases where they are victims or witnesses to sexual offences, serious physical assaults and murder. The support provided by the Essex Young Witness volunteers is tailor-made for each child, and includes helping the young witness understand the events leading up to, during and after the trial. Children are supported through their worries, concerns and fears about going to Crown Court and helped to prepare for the trial, while taking care not to discuss or rehearse the young witness’ evidence. A number of young people supported in very serious abuse cases may not have been able to give their evidence without this additional one-to-one support. Feedback from both the children and their parents for the support received is overwhelmingly positive.

For outstanding contribution to working with offenders

A Certificate of Commendation was awarded to the Drug Services Team – E Wing at HMP/YOI Chelmsford. The team has introduced the Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS), established by the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health with the strategic aim of improving the provision of drug treatment in prison. Chelmsford was one of the first waves of prisons in the country to set up and deliver IDTS and has a 126 bed unit located on E Wing, which is the Drug Services Unit. There are more than 40 people involved in the team, in a number of different specialisms. By delivering an integrated programme of treatment they are able to support offenders in addressing substance misuse and offending behaviour, which in turn reduces harm and crime on release to contribute toward a safer community. The success of the Integrated Drug Treatment System has contributed to a reduction in positive Mandatory Drug Tests to below 7% against a target of 10%.

Essex Justice Awards 2008

In 2008, two of our local nominees were finalists in the national awards:

Delia Scott, our Board Secretary, was highly commended in the long service award for continued commitment and dedication to the criminal justice system for more than 20 years. Delia has worked in the criminal justice system for more than 36 years, and this year demonstrated her commitment to going the extra mile by spearheading a sponsored tandem skydive to help raise funds for a project to provide additional support for young victims of crime.

Delia was one of six people from the criminal justice agencies in Essex to take part in the sponsored skydive, raising more than £2,600 for Victim Support in Essex to expand their services for young victims and witnesses.

Delia is pictured left with television presenter Kirsty Young who announced the awards at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. Delia was also awarded a certificate of excellence in the Essex CJB local Justice Awards.

Nigel Seaman, a Physical Education Officer at Chelmsford Prison and Young Offenders Institute, was highly commended in the category for outstanding contribution to working with offenders. Nigel, in partnership with the Rugby Football Association, delivered an eight week course leading to a nationally recognised coaching qualification for 20 offenders.

Nigel is pictured, right, with Attorney General Baroness Scotland and Chelmsford Prison Governor Rob Davis at the national awards ceremony, Nigel also received a certificate of excellence at the Essex local Justice Awards.

More local winners

Awards of Excellence and Commendation were presented by Essex Criminal Justice Board’s sponsor, Frances Done, chair of the national Youth Justice Board, and citations were read by Chief Crown Prosecutor Ken Caley, Deputy Chair of Essex Criminal Justice Board.

Awards of excellence were presented to Delia and Nigel, as mentioned above, and also to:

Jemima Baldwin, Safer Custody Senior Officer working within Chelmsford Prison where she helps prisoners in distress, prolific self-harmers and those who present a suicide risk, has been nominated in the caring for victims category.
Stephen Orbell, Learning Centre Manager and tutor at Chelmsford Prison, who helps prisoners achieve national qualifications through Learndirect, has been nominated in the working with offenders category.
Young Victims of Crime – Peer Mentors, a group of year 12 students from Greensward College, Hockley have been nominated for outstanding achievement in caring for victims. The Peer Mentors, working on a lunchtime and after school rota, support fellow students in dealing with issues that include anger management, bullying, exam concerns, friendship issues and violent behaviour at home.

Some of the Peer Mentors, pictured right, receiving their Certificates of Excellence from Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board.

Essex Young Witness Project – Volunteer Young Witness Supporters, have helped more than 2,000 young witnesses from the project in the last ten years.

The specially trained volunteers provide tailored one-to-one support for young witnesses, helping them gain an understanding of events leading up to and after the trial, working through their worries, concerns and fears about giving evidence.

Some of the team, pictured left, with Frances Done at the Essex Justice Awards presentation.

All remaining nominees received Certificates of Commendation. These are:

Julia Mackenzie, Maldon District Council Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership manager, has been nominated for her outstanding contribution to tackling youth crime. She is a strong advocate for team-working and has put in place an effective team that deals quickly and proactively with crime and disorder.
Janice Carpenter, office manager with HMCS in Chelmsford, was one of three nominees for the long service award for continued commitment and dedication to improving the criminal justice system. Janice has worked with HMCS for more than 32 years, always rising to challenges and adapting to change.
Wendy Counsell, a Witness Care Officer with Essex Police, has been nominated for 26 years continued commitment, and in particular for her work in helping the Crown Court Witness Care Team deliver the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime and the Witness Charter.
Essex Police and CPS Crown Court Witness Care Team were established as a dedicated joint-agency team in June 2007 and have dealt with about 2,500 cases. The excellent level of service provided to victims and witnesses has won wide-ranging recognition across Essex for supporting members of the public, resulting in improved confidence in the criminal justice system in Essex.
Southend Witness Service Volunteers have been nominated partly because of the high level and quality of support provided to witnesses in a sensitive week-long trial earlier this year. Some volunteers came in additional days to assist with the volume of work and all dealt with the sensitive matter very calmly and professionally
The Bail Information Team at Chelmsford Prison were nominated in both working with offenders and in the partnership of the year category, for their success in carrying out detailed risk assessments and making referrals to accommodation providers for accused persons on bail. The team has received national recognition as being the most successful in the UK in referrals, freeing prison space for those who pose more risk of re-offending.
Basildon Combined Court Open Day Team were nominated for their outstanding contribution to engaging with communities. The fifteen-strong team all, voluntarily and unpaid, gave up their Saturday to help run the Inside Justice Open Day at Basildon Combined Court. About 500 visitors were able to get an insight into the workings of the criminal justice system not normally available to the general public, with tours of the buildings, mock trial hearings, access to other criminal justice agencies.
Colchester Witness Care Team; Witness Service staff and volunteers at Harwich and Witham Magistrates’ courts; court staff at Harwich and Witham; Gary Kirkley, a Witness Intermediary; and Fiona Hardman, Crown Prosecutor, were jointly nominated for the Partnership of the Year Award, as the best example of joint working across the criminal justice system. Nominator Fran Kramer, Senior Witness Service Manager for Victim Support in Essex, gave details of how all these different people and teams worked together to ensure that a vulnerable victim got “his day in court” and justice was seen to be done. She used an example of one wheelchair-bound victim’s experience through the court process, having been assaulted by a member of staff in his care home.

CJS working together for the public

Essex