Current Initiatives
Communities in Staffordshire have had their say on how seized criminals’ cash is spent on community projects. A new pilot fund has given people a direct say in how the ill gotten gains of criminals can be used to benefit their communities - in the fight against crime.
The £4 million Community Cashback scheme has been funded by money and assets seized from wealthy criminals. It has allowed the public to choose which worthwhile community projects are funded - by feeding in their views to a new dedicated website, or through neighbourhood policing meetings or through Citizens’ Panels.
The successful bids have to show how the local community has been involved in selecting the project, demonstrate good value for money and how it is related in some way to tackling antisocial or criminal behaviour locally. This has included projects such as renovating a vandalised play area, investing in a youth centre or installing security measures on a housing estate.
Commenting on the scheme, Peter Hammersley, Chair of Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board said: “Community Cashback offers an excellent opportunity for us to respond directly to the communities’ needs, so we really encourage people to have their say on the local projects they believe would benefit from this fund.”
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “The Community Cashback fund will ensure a portion of the ill gotten gains of criminals are ploughed back into communities at a grassroots level, funding the projects that the public decide will make the most positive difference to their lives.
“Seizing capital assets deprives criminals of money, reduces the incentive for crime and promotes fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system. But schemes like Community Cashback fund are only successful if people use them. We are giving local people a stronger voice; I hope they will use it.”
Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said: “It is only right that the public should have a say on how cash from criminals is spent in their community. This sends a strong message to the public that the criminal justice system cares about what they think and is on their side. This in turn might encourage more members of the public to help in the fight against crime - to pick up the phone to report a crime, stand up in court to give evidence and support others to do the same.
“This announcement follows the successful results of a vote on Community Payback schemes that we publicised last week – a total of 18,000 people across the country nominated what work offenders should do to make amends for their crimes.
“The message behind Community Cashback and Community Payback is simple – the public must have a stronger voice in the criminal justice system – after all, it operates on their behalf and must have their backing.”
To see the list of projects being funded in Staffordshire go to: http://cashback.cjsonline.gov.uk
Staffordshire Police in partnership with Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board have developed an information guide to demystify the victim and witness experience.
The JIGSAW (Justice Information Guide Supporting and Advising Witnesses) DVD aims to allay some of the concerns people may have about the criminal justice system by ensuring that they are well-informed about what they are likely to experience. JIGSAW is a ‘one stop shop’ incorporating all the information required - simply and succinctly.
Since the launch of the Delivering Simple Speedy Summary Justice (CJSSS) initiative in Staffordshire all partners involved in the Criminal Justice System have worked closely together, changing or adapting the way they work.
This is to ensure criminal cases are processed through the different agencies more quickly and efficiently. To find out how they have done this, please see our latest Across the Board newsletter by clicking here or go to Downloads/Internal Newsletters.
As part of the Delivery Agreement, our current initiatives encompass the key priorities Staffordshire Local Criminal Justice Board intends to tackle in its delivery of narrowing the justice gap and increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system in Staffordshire.
Much of the work being proposed builds on initiatives that have been successfully developed over a number of years by each of the criminal justice agencies in Staffordshire working closely together.
- Beacon Approach
- Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice (CJSSS)
- Community Engagement
- Conditional Cautioning
- Director's Guidance Quick Process
- Justice Awards 2009
- Inside Justice Week 2009
- PROGRESS
- Witness Charter
- Case Management
- Service User Panels
- Protocol for dealing with persistent offenders
- Prolific and Other Priority Offender Strategy
- Anti-Social Behaviour Orders Protocol
Beacon Approach
This is a new way of managing the criminal justice reform programme nationally and of delivering sustainable improvements locally. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) has worked with 10 selected LCJBs to develop the Beacon Approach, including Staffordshire. These LCJBs have implemented a core programme of national reform projects. Further details can be found in the July edition of our Across the Board newsletter here or by clicking on Downloads/Internal Newsletter.
Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice (CJSSS)
This initiative, has been rolled out across Staffordshire and has improved the speed and effectiveness of the court system but has involved every criminal justice agency changing or adapting the way they work, to ensure criminal cases are progressed through the different agencies quicker and more efficiently. Further details can be found in the July edition of our Across the Board newsletter here or by clicking on Downloads/Internal Newsletter.
Community Engagement
Improving public confidence in the CJS through closer community engagement with the criminal justice process, including measures such as provision of community engagement officers in magistrates' courts, feedback to the community, community payback schemes.
Conditional Cautioning
Increasing effective diversion of cases from court process through provision of a caution with associated compulsory reparative and/or preventative conditions which if breached or not performed result in a charge and prosecution.
Director's Guidance Quick Process
Making more effective use of resources by streamlining the file building process for certain straight forward guilty plea cases suitable for hearing in a magistrates' court.
Justice Awards 2009
Winners of the local Justice Awards 2009 will be anounced shortly. Staff and volunteers across the Staffordshire have been nominating their colleagues and team-mates for an award. The Justice Awards are open to anyone working in the Criminal Justice System, and anyone from a voluntary organisation working with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders. For further information see the Justice Awards 2009 page opposite.
Inside Justice Week 2009
Inside Justice Week takes place this year from 17 - 22 October 2009. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the criminal justice system and of the improvements that are being delivered across Staffordshire. For more information and the latest updates on planned activities see the Inside Justifce Week 2009 page opposite.
PROGRESS
Improving efficiency in the support for the magistrates' court listing process by using the PROGRESS IT linkage to improve the effectiveness of case progression work between CPS and HMCS.
Witness Charter
Improving confidence in the CJS by establishing standards of service for non-expert witnesses from pre-arrest to post-trial.
Case Management Criminal Case Management Programme - Local Framework Summary Document Criminal Case Management AGENCY SUMMARY - Action Plan to implement the Staffordshire Framework Document Full Action Plan - Table Document
Service User Panels
We have established service user panels in consultation with Staffordshire Police and Victim Support Stafordshire to allow people, for example, victims and witnesses, who use the criminal justice system in Staffordshire to have a say and to shape policy. The panels meet quarterly, meet Chief Officers of criminal justice agencies to tell them their views and what services they would like to see improved. If you would like to be a member of the pioneering Service User Panele, please click here to find out more.
Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board's Premium Service Protocol for dealing with persistent offenders.
To download click here.
Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board's Prolific and Other Priority Offender Strategy.
To discover how we address work of the three strands of Prevent & Deter, Catch & Convict and Resettle & Rehabilitate click here.
Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board's Anti-Social Behaviour Orders Protocol.
To download click here.
