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Did you know…
The Criminal Justice System is made up of 8 organisations who all work together once a crime has been reported right through to the sentence and aftercare for the victim or witness.

The West Mercia Criminal Justice Board (WMCJB) brings together all of your Local Criminal Justice Agencies to make your Criminal Justice Service a better one, whilst reducing crime and making your community a safer place to live.

The West Mercia Criminal Justice Board is made up of Chief Officers from the various criminal justice agencies throughout West Mercia. They are responsible for providing a joined-up criminal justice service and managing change at local level.

The Board is responsible for contributing to Government targets on bringing more offences to justice and increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system in all our communities. It is responsible for local delivery of other national targets in respect of enforcement, reducing ineffective trials, increasing the satisfaction of victims and witnesses and PYO’s (Persistent Young Offenders).
The Board has a support team based at the Crown Prosecution Service in Droitwich. They ensure the Board delivers national and local targets and monitors performance and is a key driver for confidence and communications throughout the Criminal Justice Service.

‘WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER JUSTICE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC OF WEST MERCIA’

  • West Mercia Probation
  • West Mercia Police
  • Crown Prosecution Service
  • Worcestershire and Herefordshire Youth Offending Service
  • Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Youth Offending Service
  • Victim Support
  • Legal Services Commision
  • H M Prison Service

If you want to find out more about all the Criminal Justice Agencies which together make up your local Criminal Justice System, plus other local services, with all the relevant help and support you may need please go to: www.cjsonline.gov/westmercia

 

If you are a victim of crime, a witness, or have been accused or convicted of a crime please go to www.cjsonline.gov/westmercia to provide you with the information you will be looking for.

 

The West Mercia Criminal Justice Board (WMCJB) plays a vital role in the fight to reduce crime, bringing more offenders to justice and improving public confidence in the Criminal Justice System.

 

Read our 2009 -2010 Delivery Plan to find out how we are going to be working together to deliver justice and protect the public of West Mercia throughout 2009/10.

 

Please visit our website for more information at: www.cjsonline.gov.uk/westmercia

What is going on in your area and how can you find out more about the criminal Justice system?

Local Crime Community Sentences (LCCS)

 

What’s it all about?

LCCS has been launched nationally throughout England and Wales, although there are still areas in which have not taken part. The project is a joint project of the Probation Boards’ Association (PBA) and the Magistrates’ Association (MA). The PBA administrates the project nationally and it is overseen by a national steering group.

 

Is West Mercia involved?
We are indeed! We are currently running LCCS in 2 areas; Telford and Hereford. Both areas have LCCS trained presenters and we have successfully run our first presentation in Hereford to Ross Rotary Club in November 2009, and Telford ran 3 LCCS sessions to CJS staff during Inside Justice Week in October 2009. We are now looking for groups to run moiré sessions for.

 

Can I get involved?
Yes you can. LCCS is always looking for groups, community groups, colleges, universities, to present to so if you are part of a group or know a group that would be interested pleas let us know. Email Sarah Hickerton (LCCS local co-ordinator) sarah.hickerton@cps.gsi.gov.uk / Telephone: 01905 825108 to enquire/book a presentation.

 

Remember the presentations are free we just ask you to arrange the venue!

Community Cashback in West Mercia

 

What is it?

Community Cashback is a new scheme in England and Wales which gives local people a say in how £4million of recovered criminal assets (for example confiscated cash or property) should be spent in their communities. Each of the 42 LCJB’s in England and Wales were given the opportunity of £95,000 to fund community projects in their area which the public then had the chance to have their say. In 2009 West Mercia took part and received 75 Project proposals.

 

269 projects nationally have been successful in being allocated funding in 2009, and in West Mercia 5 projects were successful, 3 of these were in the Telford & Wrekin area.

 

Some FACTS about Community Cashback

  • There has been a £64 million increase in the value of assets recovered in the last five years with £148 million seized in 08/09.
  • The Government is setting a new target for 2009-10 to double the amount seized to £250 million.
  • The Government has committed to looking at ways communities might be given more of a say in how recovered assets are spent locally commitments (Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Green Paper)

The schemes aims are:

  • Preventing criminal activity and taking the cash out of crime by seizing criminal’s ill-gotten gains
  • Give local people a say in how the recovered assets can be reinvested within their neighbourhoods and communities
  • Boost public confidence in criminal justice services

Successful Projects currently running in the Telford & Wrekin area:

Newport Weekenders
Received £3,974

 

To open up a local venue, a cafe on a Friday or Saturday night, where young people will have access to informal education opportunities, experienced youth workers, support, advice and guidance. It will be a drop in facility.

 

Objectives are:

  • Stay Safe
  • Be healthy
  • Enjoy and Achieve
  • Make a positive contribution
  • Economic well being

The Project will be building a positive relationship with young people and responding to the needs identified through this work.

 

 

Closing the Gap
Received £1,000

 

To run a community allotment were the young and elderly alike can prepare areas for growing fruit vegetables and Flowers after which the vegetables and fruit can be cooked by the elderly in an already established kitchen with the help of young people in the area, that can also be eaten.

 

Flowers and plants grown can be planted in elderly persons gardens or communal flower beds. This will give the youths a sense of pride in an area plagued by litter bugs and ASB.

 

 

Telford Against Drug Dealers
Received: £20,000

 

 

World Champion boxer Richie Woodhall who has joined up with the UK crime-fighting charity Crimsteoppers, to encourage people in Telford to rid their community of crime by passing on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

 

 

 

This high-impact initiative will empower individuals in the fight against drug dealers. It will encourage individuals to call anonymously with information about local criminals, bringing more offenders to justice.

 

This will help to increase the number of seizures of drugs and reduce the number of drugs-related incidents, thus improving the experience for people in the area.

 

Crimestoppers charity is a well-recognised, credible brand and offers guaranteed anonymity and rewards to encourage the public to give information about crime and criminals, safely and anonymously.

 

To find out more about the Community Cashback projects go to: www.cjsonline.gov/westmercia and go to the Community Cashback section.