News
Her Majesty’s Courts Service
Cheshire-Merseyside Courts Board
Open Meeting
4.30 pm Tuesday 23 March 2010
Chester Magistrates’ Court, Grosvenor Street, Chester, CH1 2XA
The Board’s next meeting will be open to the public.
Copies of the agenda and any supporting paperwork will be available on the day.
For security reasons you are asked to register your attendance by contacting:
Post: Liz Reina, Secretary to the Board
Area Director’s Office, QE11 Law Courts, Derby Square, Liverpool L2 1XA
Tel: 0151 471 1078
E-mail: elizabeth.reina@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
The Board is a non-executive body, providing advice and assistance
to the Area Director.
NOTE: The Board will not answer questions on individual cases before the courts or comment on sentencing issues.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COURTS BOARD DOES? Read On......
Courts Boards do not manage or administer the courts themselves, but give advice and make constructive recommendations to foster improvement in the administrative services provided. There are 21 Courts Boards across England and Wales.
The Courts Board role is:
- to scrutinise, review and make recommendations about the way in which the courts are being run in their area
- to consider draft and final business plans
Each Courts Board meets four times a year, allowing them to take an overall view of the administration of the courts in the area. They meet with the Area Director, who provides papers for Courts Board members’ consideration. One meeting each year is open to members of the public (see advertisement at the top of the page).
Membership
Each Courts Board has members drawn from different communities and from a variety of backgrounds within the Courts Board area and looks across the civil, family and criminal jurisdictions. All Courts Board members are committed to improving the way that the courts system works in their area. Paul McGladrigan is the current Area Director for Cheshire and Merseyside.
Members of the Cheshire-Merseyside Courts Board are:-
- Kathy Cowell (Chair, community member)
- Brian Denton (Magistrate member)
- HHJ Globe QC (Judge member)
- Kathleen Haeck (Magistrate member)
- Brian Lawlor (Court user member)
- Abi Pointing (Community member)
Crown Prosecution Service Merseyside & The Anthony Walker Foundation, presents:
Hate Crime - Access to Justice For All
Members of Merseyside’s diverse communities, Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector are invited to participate in a day of presentations, drama and workshops. This inclusive event is aimed at raising awareness and working together to develop positive responses to all forms of Hate Crime.
The event is to take place 9.30am - 4.30pm, Wednesday, 24th March 2010, at the LACE Conference Centre, Croxteth Drive, L17 1AA and is free of charge, but places are limited and booking is essential.
Please complete and return this booking form as soon as possible and no later than Friday 14th March or contact: Natalie Lunt, CPS Merseyside. Tel: 0151 239 6112 Email: natalie.lunt@cps.gsi.gov.uk
UNITY – A New Rape Investigation Team
UNITY, a pioneering new rape investigation team, the first of its kind in the UK, became operational on the 26th January 2010. Detective Inspector John Armstrong is leading the team of detectives and sexual offence liaison officers with Martin Decker, Crown Prosecution Service, leading the 5 CPS prosecution lawyers on the team. The team is to work closely with partner agencies in a ‘joined up process’ to provide a strong focus on victim care around-the-clock.
The aims of the UNITY Team are to:
- Improve the standard of investigation and prosecution of rape offences
- Improve the quality of treatment for victims who make complaints of rape
- Take effective action against offenders so that they can be held accountable through the criminal justice system
- Increase confidence in the criminal justice system and encourage more victims to report rape to the Police
- Increase the proportion of cases which result in a charge, court case and conviction.
Detective Inspector Stephen Jones, who is part of the UNITY team said: "Historically the main challenge to the police and CPS in successfully prosecuting an offender is disengagement by the victim. A victim may report an allegation of rape to the police but during the investigation they may decide to withdraw their allegation or feel too scared or traumatised to give evidence in court. We are determined to do everything we can to change all that by giving our absolute assurance to victims of rape and serious sexual violence so that they can be confident in what the police and the CPS can do to help them.”
As well as dedicated police officers and prosecutors working together, the Unity Team will also benefit from having new custody facilities in Liverpool, set aside to deal specifically with anyone arrested anywhere in Merseyside on suspicion of rape or serious sexual assault.
To report a rape or sexual assault to the Unity Team detectives call 0151 709 6010. To get help and advice from SARC call 0151 295 3550.
Have your say on how criminals' cash is spent!
Worthwhile Merseyside projects could receive a £95,000 boost under a new scheme aiming to take the cash out of crime and give communities a greater say.
Community Cashback gives people a direct say in how criminals’ ill-gotten gains can be used to benefit their communities in the fight against crime.
Under the scheme money and assets recovered by the courts will be reinvested in local projects aimed at cutting crime and antisocial behaviour.
Click here to have your say or nominate a project.
You can nominate a Merseyside project until 24th July and have your say during the following week.
Merseyside Witness Care Unit – Serious Crime Team - April 2009
The Merseyside Witness Care Unit expanded towards the end of 2008 which saw the creation of new Serious Crime Team. The Team supports witnesses affected by more serious crimes which have traditionally been dealt with by specialist police units.
The Serious Crime Team has now been up and running for a 4 month test period. During this initial four month period they have supported witnesses through trials that resulted in 10 defendants being sentenced to a total of 74 years in prison.
The team is currently caring for over 1,300 civilian witnesses in cases such as wounding, attempted murder, serious sexual offences, death by dangerous driving, attempted arson, gun crime, serious fraud, grievous bodily harm and serious drug offences. Part of the tailored service for witnesses involves arranging special measures, help with childcare, transport, referrals to support agencies, as well as providing a service to both Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Detective Sergeant Paul Bennett from St Helens CID has recently praised the work of the Witness Care Unit. DS Bennett was involved in a case that secured convictions for 8 defendants totalling 48 years imprisonment. He said:
‘ I used the Witness Care Unit for a serious assault trial. They provided me with a point of contact so I could manage my witness’s needs and arrange special measures. The majority of the witnesses were young people and they were dealt with in a professional manner throughout, by the Witness Care Officer’.
The Witness Care Officer has since been put forward for a local award for his professionalism in dealing with the witnesses in this case.
Merseyside Witness Care Unit is jointly staffed by police and Crown Prosecution employees and is located in Liverpool city centre.
For more information about the work of the unit, access the Merseyside Witness Care Unit page using the tabs to the left of the screen.