Justice Awards winners announced
26 Oct 2004
400,000 staff and volunteers work in the Criminal Justice System to support victims and witnesses, bring cases to justice and rehabilitate offenders - often in very difficult circumstances. The ten winners, for five individual awards and five team awards, were chosen from over 400 nominations and 30 finalists. The overall winner of the Justice Awards will be announced during the ceremony and presented with the Justice Shield.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, presenting the winners with their awards, said:
"I am delighted to be able to present these awards to staff at the front line of the Criminal Justice System. The winners have demonstrated outstanding levels of dedication and professionalism in what is a challenging and often difficult environment. Their achievements deserve our gratitude and recognition and I congratulate them on their success."
Baroness Scotland said:
"It was extremely difficult to choose the winners from the hundreds of nominations we received. This makes the work of these ten individuals and teams truly exceptional. I want to thank them all personally for their contributions to the Criminal Justice System. The work they all do differs widely. However they are united not only in their professionalism but also in the amazing success that they have achieved".
Nick Ross, hosting today's event, said:
"Tackling crime and helping those affected by it is rarely straightforward. Today's winners show a mixture of determination, innovation and, most of all, compassion in dealing with a wide range of people and issues. Thanks to them this country is a safer, more just and more supportive place".
The winners of the five individual awards are as follows:
Outstanding achievement in caring for victims
Mary Lindrea (Victim Support volunteer, Avon and Somerset) - for 43 years of voluntary work in the Criminal Justice System, including establishing Victim Support Somerset.
Outstanding achievement in caring for witnesses
Andrew Plant (Police Inspector, Nottinghamshire) - for making identity parades easier for witnesses.
Outstanding contribution to tackling youth crime
Kelly Woodcock (Youth Offending team, Walsall, West Midlands) - for her work with vulnerable girls at risk of being groomed for prostitution.Outstanding contribution to working with offenders
Carol Chilcott (Remand Foster Carer, Bristol, Avon and Somerset) - for her work as a foster carer for young offenders on remand.Outstanding contribution to engaging local communities
Vinny Bolina (Area Communications Manager, CPS West Midlands) - for bringing the work of the CPS to BME groups and educating the West Midlands CPS about cultural diversity in the area.
The winners of the five team awards are as follows:
Outstanding achievement in engaging communities
The Pennine Division Community Safety Team (Lancashire) - for establishing protocols and producing information for marginalised groups.Outstanding achievement in caring for victims and/or witnesses
Witness Service at Winchester Crown Court (Hampshire & Isle of Wight) - for their efforts to engage the community in helping witnesses.CJS Innovation Award
Snaresbrook Crown Court staff (London) - for their work piloting XHIBIT, an IT system that is improving case management for victims, witnesses and the agencies involved.Outstanding commitment to diversity
Voice UK (national charity based in Derbyshire) - for providing support to witnesses with learning disabilities and their families, while providing genuine employment opportunities to people with physical and learning disabilities.Partnership of the year: best example of building up partnership-working across the CJS.
Operation Hatch (Hull anti drug dealer campaign, Humberside) - where the CPS, police, probation, prison service, court service and others teamed up to clear Hull of drug dealers.