WCJB visits Trowbridge school
Pupils learn about criminal justice system
PUPILS learnt all about the justice system in Wiltshire during a morning of lessons with criminal justice agency staff.
The Year 7 youngsters at St Augustine’s Catholic College, Trowbridge, attended six sessions on July 8th during the Criminal Justice Morning which was organised by the Wiltshire Criminal Justice Board (WCJB).
Pictured right are the criminal justice agency representatives who attended the event at St Augustine’s.
With them, far right, is teacher and event organiser Christine Hanlon.
WCJB Community Engagement Officer Steven Taylor, who co-ordinated the event, said it aimed to show the children what agencies do, boost confidence and awareness in the criminal justice system, and explain how young people can get involved.
Representing HM Courts Service in Wiltshire at the school were Mary Hamnett and Paul Long.
They talked through a case study with the pupils, as well as sentencing options and guidelines, and how judges make decisions.
Wiltshire Youth Offending Service staff Griff Daniels and Blair Keltie explained how they work with young offenders in the community whilst Police Community Support Officers David Brown and Carole Manning described how working with the community in Trowbridge is vital to the effectiveness of Wiltshire Police.
National Probation Service staff Chris Bath and James Bamford provided details of their work and how they oversee the supervision of offenders.
And Anna Humphreys, Roxy Cole and Simon Brenchley explained how the Crown Prosecution Service brings wrong-doers to justice, supports victims of crime and makes people feel safer in their communities.
The following day, Griff returned to St Augustine’s to run a morning of Restorative Justice sessions with pupils.
Restorative Justice brings victims and offenders together in a controlled environment, to find out what happened and attempt to put things right.
Restorative Justice is used by the Wiltshire Youth Offending Service as one of its prevention strategies.
It provides victims with an opportunity to explain the impact of the crime, the harm caused and ask questions.
Steven Taylor said: “The first day saw over 100 young people gaining first-hand experience on how the criminal justice system works in Wiltshire.
“The Restorative Justice event gave students a chance to see how the RJ principles can be used to deal with conflict in a school setting.
“This events form part of an ongoing WCJB schools’ engagement programme aiming at boosting awareness and confidence in the criminal justice system.”