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Here you can find the latest news in 2010 from the Suffolk Criminal Justice board (SCJB). Below are News stories from local media sources and press releases from the SCJB.
Please click on the links below to see what's been happening so far in 2010
New Anti Drugs Logo Launched - 25/02/10
Bungay youth centre to open soon - 08/02/10
Crime does not, and will not pay - 28/01/10
Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Merger
25th February 2010
SUFFOLK’S NEW TACKLING DRUGS LOGO UNVEILED
A new countywide ‘tackling drugs’ logo, designed by students from Haverhill, was unveiled in February at Endeavour House in Ipswich a the start of a new anti drugs campaign for the region.
The ‘Life’ logo, designed by four pupils from Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College, was chosen as the winning design from a range of concepts submitted by school children across Suffolk, that were entered into the ‘Project X’ competition.
The aim of the competition, which was launched in September 2009 from the community cashback scheme was to challenge students, aged 11-18, to design a logo and create a strap line that whenever, wherever and in whatever medium it is seen, will be immediately recognised as part of Suffolk’s campaign to tackle drugs.
The winning design, plus designs from the other four finalists and other participating teams has been on display at the entrance of Endeavour house and will now be used county wide in a campaign for tackling drugs.
The four winning students from Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College were presented with prizes by Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Bernie Morgan and County Councillor Rae Leighton (Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Suffolk Police Authority Member).
Picture caption:
From left to right – Tom Hickmott, Leigh Staples, Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Bernie Morgan, Callum Harty, and Ainsley Richards.
18/02/2010 - Payback Time
HOLBROOK: The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a Suffolk criminal, leaving him £118,000 poorer today.
The figure includes a five-figure sum in interest, accumulated after payments from Nathaniel Leheup were delayed for more than two years.
Law enforcement agencies persisted in chasing Leheup in order to get the 58-year-old to hand over the money he made from his crimes.
Despite the slow progress in satisfying a Proceeds of Crime order, officers said their relentless pursuit of the money he owed sends out a powerful message to others who have similar court orders
Leheup, formerly of Holbrook, was originally told to repay £105,000 which was deemed to be the amount he made from handling stolen goods.
However, Leheup, now of Romney Marsh, Kent, eventually ended up having to find an additional £13,500 in interest after delaying payment of the money he owed. In total, the drawn-out saga has cost him £118,518.36.
Suffolk Constabulary temporary detective superintendent Steve Mattin said: “Not only does this reinforce the message that crime does not pay, it shows the public that we will pursue relentlessly any criminals who are enjoying a lifestyle derived from crime.
“This result represents the hard work, patience and determination of the police financial investigators and CPS lawyers.
“I hope this sends out a clear message to the public and to those who engage in any type of criminal activity that we can, and will, seize their assets if they have been funded by crime”
Leheup was convicted of handling stolen goods on January 22, 2007. Following his conviction, a confiscation hearing on October 25, 2007 at Ipswich Crown Court ordered Leheup to pay back the sum of £105,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). He was given six months to pay or face three years in prison. However, delays in selling off assets led to frustration from enforcement agencies. Ultimately Leheup came up with the money and has now satisfied the order made against him in full.
A spokesman for Suffolk's Criminal Justice Board said Suffolk Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and her Majesty's Court Service were determined to pursue the money.
http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED17%20Feb%202010%2023:39:32:157
Bungay youth centre to open soon - 08/02/10
EDP
Work is almost complete on a new youth facility in Bungay that has been made possible thanks to £50,000 raised in funding.
It is hoped the project, being spearheaded by the Bungay Youth Partnership with the support of the town council, should be up and running by the end of this month.
The youth facility will occupy the basement of the premises at the top of Bridge Street and is to be named The Bunka .
Young people have been involved in deciding what they would like from the centre and will have a say in how it is decorated and run.
Simon Thompson, chairman of the Bungay Youth Partnership and a town councillor, said the project had taken about two years to come to fruition.
“The building was most recently a kebab shop. We took it over about a year ago with the idea of turning it into a youth and community venture,” he said. “The idea is that the young people will run it and there will be youth workers on hand to supervise. At the end of the day the main aim is to get the young people running it for themselves.”
The listed building in the town centre has been overhauled to provide disabled access and toilet facilities, a kitchen, an internet café and a snug where youngsters can sit and watch television. There will also be a small hair salon and Mr Thompson said youngsters may have an opportunity to do apprenticeships.
The funds for the venture have come from a variety of sources including the Community Cashback Scheme, The Suffolk Foundation, The Rural Economy Scheme, The Geoffrey Watling Charity and the Youth Opportunities Scheme.
Mr Thompson said it was now time for young people to get behind the project and make it a success.
He also thanked people involved in the project including local builder Reuben Shepherd and suppliers who have offered items at low prices.
Bungay mayor John Warnes, who toured the facility at the weekend, said: “I think this is a wonderful idea for the young people of the town.”
Dani Sewell, 16, who is on The Bunka committee, said: “This is a really good idea and I think people will use it. It is going to be somewhere warm where people can come and relax and watch television.”
http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED07%20Feb%202010%2021%3A17%3A45%3A083
Crime does not, and will not pay - 28/01/10
‘We will target criminals who cause the most harm within our communities’. That was the key message this week at a conference intended to raise the profile of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the use of specialist Financial Investigators to solve problems in Suffolk's communities, reduce the risk of harm and increase public confidence in the county.
Hosted by the Suffolk Criminal Justice Board (SCJB) at Police Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, 60 Criminal Justice System staff came together on Tuesday (26th January) to discuss how the use of financial investigation will be implemented in every day investigative processes.
One of the main aims was to show that career criminals who had appeared beyond the law are now well within its reach and can expect to have their assets taken, be it there cash, houses, cars or other valuable property.
The conference emphasised that whilst removing assets from those who have benefited from their criminality will remain a key focus, the mainstreaming of the use of financial investigation as an investigative tool is to be imbedded in the investigation of all crime.
Suffolk’s Chief Constable, Simon Ash opened the day by saying: “The focus of our efforts should be targeted at those who cause the most harm within the communities of Suffolk. The public want us to take the ill-gotten gains from criminals who live lifestyles beyond their lawful means. We have been very successful in doing this and then ploughing cash back into community projects through the national Pay Back scheme.’’
In planning and delivering the conference, the Suffolk Criminal Justice Board (SCJB) had the support of key partners from across the county involved in the investigation, prosecution, confiscation and enforcement processes. These included representatives from Suffolk Constabulary, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS), the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). All gave presentations to highlight how the use of financial investigation and working in partnership can enhance problem solving and have the positive impact of reducing the risk of harm across the county.
Temporary Detective Superintendent Steve Mattin commented: “We want criminals to feel the full weight of the law, but we also want to put them out of business permanently by taking their profits. The Proceeds of Crime Act demonstrates clearly that crime does not pay and we are extremely committed to using these powers to their full potential.
“We are always keen to hear from the public about any person who appears to have wealth and possessions without any apparent legal means of funding this lifestyle, and who they suspect may be involved in criminality."
The response from the conference was very positive with those in attendance agreeing that the powers afforded to Police, CPS, HMCS, Trading Standards and HM Revenue & Customs by the POCA legislation, provides the platform to remove negative role models from the communities of Suffolk and to raise public confidence.
Mainstreaming the use of financial investigation in day-to-day investigative processes would further enhance this concept.
Picture Caption-
Photos of the Ill-gotten gains: Chief Constable Simon Ash receiving £53,000, the sum allocated to Suffolk Constabulary by the Home Office in December 2009.
Suffolk and Norfolk Probation Merger Plans
Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Areas have been given the go-ahead to merge and become a joint probation trust.
The two probation services – which both have the top “Green Star” rating in national performance charts - will start operating as a joint trust from April 2010, providing probation services to both counties.
The full merger between the two organisations is expected to take up to three years.
All probation boards in England and Wales must apply to become probation trusts. The boards of Norfolk and Suffolk decided they could most successfully achieve trust status by joining forces and submitting a joint application to the National Offender Management Service.
Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Areas already have much in common, with similarities in size, structure, culture and levels of performance. The exact shape of the merged organisation will be worked out over the next few months.
As the two organisations merge, some posts will be lost, however frontline operational jobs will be protected as much as possible.
John Budd, Suffolk Probation Area Chief Officer said:
“I am pleased that our application to become a joint trust has been successful. Although we have already undertaken preliminary work to merge, we can now get going in earnest.
“I would like to reassure the public that we will continue to provide excellent probation services to the offenders, courts, communities, prisons and victims of Norfolk and Suffolk
“By joining forces we can take what is best from both organisations and apply it in both counties.
“In the meantime we will continue to work hard to protect the public and reduce re-offending.”