2008/09 Winners
The winners of the 2008/09 Gloucestershire Justice Awards were:
Outstanding achievement in caring for victims and/or witnesses
Individual Award: Claire Acton, Crown Prosecution Service
Nominated because she makes "every effort to ensure that victims and witnesses are comfortable with the court process", Claire's work as a CPS Caseworker stood out to the judges becaue of her willingness to "go the extra mile" in order to provide an excellent service for those who have been a victim of crime.
Team Award: Gloucestershire Witness Care Unit
This nomination came accompanied by glowing endorsements from colleagues and partners who work with the team. One person said: "Persuading the witnesses, sometimes reluctant and almost always nervous, [to attend trial] is a task of sensitivity which the Unit carries out with skill."
Outstanding contribution to tackling youth crime (young people under the age of 18)
Individual Award: Sarah Denley, Tewkesbury Borough Council
Sarah is a Youth Diversion Officer who works hard to reduce young people's involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour. The judges were particularly impressed with the examples of her proactive work outlined in the nomination and with how she makes a real difference in the lives of vulnerable teenagers.
Outstanding contribution to working with offenders
Individual Award: David Hills, Gloucestershire Probation Service
David supervises offenders on Community Payback projects. Through his work with the St. Mark's Luncheon Club in Cheltenham, he has developed the skills and confidence of offenders, giving them a better chance of integrating back into the community. His work on the project has also significantly helped to reduce the fear of crime experiened by the elderly in the area.
Team Award: Education, Training & Employment Team, Gloucestershire Probation Service
Set up in 2003, this team are absolutely committed to their face to face work with offenders. All the staff readily do that little bit extra to help ensure that a chaotic offender gets to an appointment on time or that he or she is offered the training they need to get employment. Staff work hard to boost an offender's confidence and bring out hidden potential.All of this makes a significant difference in reducing the likelihood of that person re-offending.
Outstanding commitment to diversity
Individual Award: Angeline Brady, HM Prison Gloucester
Described as the driving force behind the promotion of good race relations and equality of opportunity at Gloucester Prison, Angeline has a real "can-do" attitude. She has initiated a staff/prisoner representative group, made sure that information is available to staff and prisoners, developed a website and arranged events to celebrate diversity. In the words of her nominator: "She has shown a dedication to improve the [Prison] Service. she has challenged behaviour, and educated people, with a can-do attitude that is rarely found in individuals."
Outstanding contribution to engaging local communities
No award given this year
Outstanding achievement in putting people first & satisfying customer needs
Individual Award: Bob Keeble, Gloucestershire Constabulary
With responsibility for the county's Witness Care Unit, Bob has also undertaken a variey of initiatives to ensure that the Constabulary's "People First" ethos is embedded at the heart of the Police's Criminal Justice Department. His nomination highlighted how his work has "improved the level of care and support which can be offered to victims and witnesses and really goes to the heart of providing what the customer needs".
Team Award: HM Prison Gloucester Healthcare Team
This team of nurses are dedicated to prisoner healthcare and needs - both physical and mental. They work with the men in Gloucester Prison, addressing their health needs whilst they are "inside". This helps to reduce re-offending raes on release, and through their work on health awareness, promotion and education they help men to change their behaviour.
Innovation award for introducing more effective or efficient ways of working
Individual Award: Andrew Walters, Crown Prosecution Service
Andrew was described as "part of the local criminal justice system woodwork" by his nominator - a reference to the fact that he has worked for the Crown Prosecution Service since its inception. He was instrumental in setting up the specialist Domestic Violence Court whch was a model for other Courts in the country, and has been at the fore of the implementation of simple, speedy, summary justice with the results that trials that used to take 20 weeks o rmore, are now heard on average within 6 weeks.
Team Award: Fines Collection Team, HM Courts Service
During 2008, after the introduction of new computer systems and the restructuring of their agency, this team faced the challenge of establishing a new way of working so that they could move forward as a successful, integrated unit. But it's a challenge which they rose to with innovation, hard work, commitment and determination. A completely new structure was introduced whereby each member of the team takes full ownership for the Enforcement decision on each individual customer account. The success can be seen in their results.
Award for long term commitment and dedication to the criminal justice system
Individual Award: David Groom, retired from Youth Offending Service
The only person to receive two nominations! David worked for the Youth Justice System for over 30 years and has now officially retired. However, he finds that he can't keep away and so continues to work for them as well as lecturing about the youth justice system. His impact on youth justice in this county is clear by the numerous examples given to us about his knowledge, his professionalism, his management skills and the inspiration he gives to others.
Partnership of the year
Mental Health In-reach & Drug Strategy Team, 2gether NHS Trust & HMP Gloucester
An innovative partnership comprising 2gether NHS Trust's Prison In-Reach team and HMP Gloucester's Drug Strategy Team. Together they have formed a Safer Custody Support Group which is available to all prisoners in distress, crisis, at risk of self harm or suicide. The group aims to support prisoners through peer support and professional support. It aims to promote confidence and assertivenesss, hopefulness and a belief in recovery. A truly excellent example of collaborative working.
Benedictine Monastic Order of Monks and Gloucestershire Probation Service
A unique partnership between the faith sector and the Probation Service. Through the Community Payback Team, offenders are put to work to help the Monks at Prinknash Abbey restore the old walled garden and orchard. The partnership helps offenders to learn new skills which will help them find employment and move away from an often chaotic lifestyle. At the same time, the monks are pleased to be able to contribute to the rehabilitation of offenders particularly as the rule of St. Benedict encourages manual labour stating that "idleness is the enemy of the soul".
Domestic Violence Court Team, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Crown Prosecution Service
Operating in the sensitive area of the prosecution of domestic abuse, this partnership between the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service centres around Gloucestershire's specialist Domestic Volence Court. The direct CPS to Police liaison helps to speed up the progression of a case which is crucial in domestic abuse cases where the injured party is vulnerable - if the case is taking too long, the victim will often retract their evidence because of the stress they feel under.
Volunteer of the year
Serena Smith, Youth Offending Service 
Serena has been volunteering as a Panel Member with the Youth Offending Service for several years. She has been commended for the genuine interest she has in the welfare of young people and for her ability to draw out the most reticent of teenagers. She gets the balance right between examining the consequences of a young person's offending and the need to help them change their behaviour.