Inside Justice Week 2007
Inside Justice Week took place this year from 3 - 10 November 2007. The aim of the week was to raise awareness of the criminal justice system and of the improvements that are being delivered across Lancashire.
Walk through the week with us...
On Saturday 3 November...
Chesney from Coronation Street stood in the dock as part of Burnley Combined Courts’ Open Day. Members of the public took the opportunity to come into court to see how magistrates deal with anti-social behaviour hearings today and what a typical hearing would look like in days gone by. Elsewhere, the public got the chance to find out about police photo fits, electronic tagging and how to become a magistrate. Outside, ever popular with the youngsters, was a police motorbike and prisoner escort van – open for visits!
On Friday 9 November...
Classmates from Barnoldswick Church of England School paid a visit to Reedley Magistrates’ Court to perform a play which they had previously rehearsed in class, about the theft of a mobile phone. “Lee Holdall” stood in the dock as the aggrieved, “Matthew Good-man”, looked on! Pupils took on the roles of defendant, prosecutor, defence solicitor, legal advisor, magistrates, ushers and court reporters. The visit was coordinated by local Magistrate Susan Hughes together with teacher Margaret Ridehalgh. They were joined in court by a local Community Beat Manager, a member of CPS, a Defence Solicitor and Group 4 Security.
Throughout the week...
Primary schools from across the county competed in the Courts Service’s anti-bullying competition. 12 schools performed a 10-15 minute drama, musical production or presentation on the subject of bullying and victimisation to a panel of judges. Three schools made it to the finals, where their plays were judged once more, this time with the police on the panel too!
First prize (£200 for the school and a visit to Lancashire Constabulary’s Mounted Division) went to Lordsgate Township CE Primary School, Burscough, whose pupils performed poems that they had written together in class.
Year 6 teacher, Mrs Tonge, was “absolutely delighted” with the result, commenting, “We spent one week in class brainstorming what victims of bullying went through, and what made bullies do the things they did. The pupils then wrote poems together in pairs, which we put together into one presentation. They loved the drama of it and I know it had a real impact on their understanding.” One boy from the class reported that he felt much more confident if he were ever to face being bullied, but also, that he would feel more confident about helping someone to stop bullying too.
Our congratulations go to Lordsgate Township CE Primary School and to the runners up St Wilfred’s C of E Primary School, Lancaster and St Joseph’s Convent School, Burnley.