Video profiles

2007  |  2006  |  2005

FIONA BRUCE

The Justice Awards is all about going the extra mile I can honestly say that every one of you appears to have done just that.

WINNERS VOICES – The Reverend Canon Peter Vowles

Well it's quite wonderful really because it's been a great adventure, the whole thing.

WINNERS VOICES – The West Yorkshire Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel

We've worked extremely hard we've got something we think is really worth while and we're delighted we're proud that it's been recognized.

WINNERS VOICE – Pravina Patel

It's wonderful

WINNERS VOICE – Sergeant Brian Hughes

When I was announced It was quite a shock really a very pleasant shock

WINNERS VOICE – Andrew Lamb

I think the expectations fantastic it's a feeling a tingling feeling that goes all the way through

WINNERS VOICE – The Warbarth Project

It's amazing but then it reflects the work of the people on the ground here that's actually been doing it

WINNERS VOICE – Dr. Mohamed El Sharkawy

It's very exciting

THE HOME SECRETARY

I'm delighted to be able to present the Justice Shield to Mohamed El Sharkawy

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

The public have been voting in their droves, and I'm therefore proud to announce that going home with the Peoples Award 2007 is Nazir Afzal

NAZIR AFZAL

It's great that people have recognized the work that all of us are doing in Criminal Justice

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

It's terrific, it really was, and it shows the – strength and the character of people who work in the Criminal Justice System

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

And that all of us coming together just to say two words really – and that's thank you!

THE RT. HON TONY BAIR MP, PRIME MINISTER

I know many of you would rather stay in the background but we're going to shine the spotlight on you and say proudly, look at the great work that is going on in parts of our criminal justice system. That is what the Justice Awards are about. Crime is falling. You are winning. You are all winners for justice.

THE RT. HON LORD GOLDSMITH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

And that means that you are the stars.

MALE VOICE

At the ceremony here, Fiona Bruce reads your name out and you've won… What's the feeling as that happens?

WINNERS VOICES

Amazing. Totally unexpected. And we were just like, we did it!

I'm still shaking now from it to be honest. It's just a privilege to be nominated. And in such company here today, I think we're all winners. I don't think there's a loser in the place.

It's fantastic. It's very nerve wracking, but it's fantastic. I'm really, really proud to be here.

FIONA BRUCE

We're all so grateful and this really is all about you and thanking you for what you've done.

NEWSREADER

First Edition News. The top story this hour. The search for justice for the survivors of the Morecambe Bay cockle pickers tragedy. Their former gang master is charged with the manslaughter of 21 illegal Chinese immigrants off the coast of Lancashire.

DI ANDREA BARROW

As you can see, this is where they came out of the water, a very different time than it is now. It was a dark, cold, wet February night and standing in the witness box and actually giving those accounts of what happened on that night was a real ordeal for them.

DUNCAN BIRRELL

Everyone I spoke to when this case came about said to me that the chances of us succeeding were slim because no one really had successfully managed to get Chinese illegal witnesses before the courts giving evidence.

DI ANDREA BARROW

At one point in the investigation we did honestly not think that we would get any of the witnesses to give an account to us, let alone give a version of the truth. Because they were frightened, they thought that harm would come to them if they did tell the truth.

DAWN TEAL

If the witness was ready for us to interview then the police officer and me myself, we would sit down in a quiet room and do the tape recorded interview and ask questions, gathering evidence but it is not as simple and straightforward as people think. It is just a mouthpiece through me. I have to explain the culture differences between the Chinese witness and the British police officers and help them to get through the different picture in different culture. So to get through the cultural barriers, as we say.

DUNCAN BIRRELL

The officers did a phenomenal job in building that relationship and that rapport. Again the trust of these witnesses, some of whom went into witness protection, and they all attended court and gave evidence in a way which supported and assisted our case.

DI ANDREA BARROW

It was quite harrowing as well actually listening to some of the accounts of the witnesses but to their credit they did come and give a really good account which no doubt helped towards the conviction in court.

LIZ STOKES

He committed an offence whilst in possession of Class A drugs in 2000, he was sentenced in 2001 to what was then called a Community Rehabilitation Order. Those, I mean they've changed now, the community orders, but basically he was sentenced in Crown Court to a community order by the judge. At that time he could have got custody and was very close to custody and I think that had a big impact on, you know, basically the rest of his life.

DAVE ALDRIDGE

The only thing I had when I started, there wasn't a mentoring handbook, there wasn't anybody that had done it before so I basically turned up and they basically said, you see them 30 drug users out there? Yeah. Do something with them. So I had to come up with my own kind of project and my own kind of stuff that I did. You know, there are boundaries that you have to keep but sometimes, especially with drug users, you don't really see them boundaries, you need help and if I could offer that help by speaking to someone on the phone for half an hour and stop them using and keep them on the order and keep them moving forward, to me half an hour out of my time at night wasn't really something that really bothered me.

DAN SMITH

I know it might sound silly but you have to be referred from a court to get this kind of help but I've never had this kind of help before and there was like, everyone helps in the office, including Dave, yourself, you know, you do get to see a different life than you used to have before.

DAVE ALDRIDGE

If I'm saying to this person, you can beat this, you can do this, I've done it and I'm with you all the way. If I'm not going to do that fully to what they need, there's no point in me doing it.

DAN SMITH

You've been in the life so long that that's all you know and that's just become in your mind so you need to get shown that there is a life beyond drugs and that you can, you know, go out and get work and you're not useless.

DAVE ALDRIDGE

There is a merit to it and like I said earlier on, all the bad things that have happened can be used for good in the future, it doesn't have to mean it stays bad in your life.

LIZ STOKES

I mean the main bonus for us is we're all about protecting the public and reducing re-offending. Dave's helped us to do that because he's worked with very persistent prolific offenders.

The Rt Hon Baroness of Ashtal QC – Minister of State foo the Criminal Justice System & Offender Management

The criminal justice system in England and Wales depends on the talents, skills and efforts of a large number of dedicated people, working together to make life safer and better for everyone.

It's challenging, demanding work which deserves to be recognised. Which is why I launched the Justice Awards in 2004. Last year, we received over 300 nominations from which we had to choose finalists and winners in eleven categories and one overall winner. And while it was a really difficult task it was also wonderful to see evidence of so much good work. Having chosen our finalists and winners we invited 160 of the people closely involved in these projects to an awards ceremony in London. I found the dedication and innovation shown by the finalists and winners and by so many of the other nominees awe-inspiring. I hope you find them as uplifting as I do and that you'll help us find equally worthy winners of the 2006 Justice Awards.

David Willey, Curator – The Tank Museum, Bovington camp

Community Service started working here at the Tank Museum back in 2000. We were about to let a contract to clean our tanks - the ones that are on view to the public - and we got in touch with the Probation service then and they said, 'Well actually, we can come along and do that for you. 'We started off very simply by people - a team - coming in under a supervisor dusting down the tanks. Very rapidly, we realised they could be used for other activities in the museum and other tasks.

Mike Matthews, Deputy Manager – The Community Service Unit, Dorset

"We could have people cutting grass and painting schools and that's fine. But at the end of it what we do want to do is see people with more qualifications so they find themselves a job so they don't commit further offences."

"What we're going to do today is a little bit of electrical wiring."

"The funding is through the Learning and Skills Council. It's all geared to literacy and numeracy."

David Willey, Curator – The Tank Museum, Bovington camp

The instructors that have come up from Weymouth College have been very very good quality. They've got the time,the way of being able to talk to the offenders that's not going to actually put their backs up in any way - that's actually bringing them on - is instructing them.

Allan Grinter – Community Service Supervisor, Dorset

"That's all I look for: enthusiasm. I don't care if they don't know a nut and bolt from a screw. If they've got the enthusiasm we will get them through this course."

"I've been on the course now for about five weeks. Yeah - I really am enjoying it - especially - [you know what I mean] - working with tanks. What an opportunity."

"You know - I just thought it was going to be- 'clean up yard' - yeah, and stuff like that but, like, you know it's jobs like this where you can get stuck in and stuff."

"They are actually getting hands-on experience of using tools, equipment, learning basic maintenance tasks."

Mike Matthews, Deputy Manager – The Community Service Unit, Dorset

"A lot of our people have come through - they've left school because they were probably told they were thick. Not to turn up for their exams,so they failed. But they're not thick. Far from it - which is why we've done really well in Level 2 literacy and numeracy.

David Willey, Curator – The Tank Museum, Bovington camp

"They're there on a regular basis,they turn up,they're in a work environment where they're given a set of standards that they've got to adhere to, and again,some of the offenders,they just haven't had the jobs, or the experience,or that opportunity before.

Mike Matthews, Deputy Manager – The Community Service Unit, Dorset

"We had one guy that had been unemployed for fourteen years and he came here,went through his course,engineering, his college engineering certificate,he also got Level 2 literacy and numeracy,and now he's working."

Nigel Martin, Engineerring Tutor – Weymouth college

"When I heard that we were put forward,I was pleased that we were recognised, of course,but to actually win the Criminal Justice Award was just the icing on the cake."

Mike Matthews, Deputy Manager – The Community Service Unit, Dorset

"It's not just us and it's not just the Tank Museum,it's with Weymouth College and Learning and Skills Council funding - it really is a team event."

Sharon Berry, Storybook Dads HMP Dartmoor

"Hello Tiara, it's me, Daddy here. I hope you're OK my love. It is your special day, indeed- it tis your birthday - and I thought I would read you a lovely story. "Storybook Dads is a means of maintaining family ties by prisoners recording a story for their child which is then enhanced and edited and put onto a CD and sent out to the child. "He's read a story onto a mini-disk,recorded, and then it gets downloaded into the computer. And, [take] out any mistakes that he makes."

"In the middle of the night,when you're safe in bed,and the doors are locked, and the cats are fed..."This is their job. They work here every day,and they learn good skills, you know,they learn good IT skills. It was the writer in residence who thought that this software - that is used for radio - could be used to enhance storytelling.

Kai – editor, Storybook Dads

"It took me a while to basically get used to it but once you're used to it you can just flow writing all over the place."

Sharon Berry, Storybook Dads HMP Dartmoor

So, over the past three years it's gone [to] really just one person you know, with one little mini-disk and no money - and we're editing now for thirty prisons. It's just an intimate way of keeping in contact with their child.

Kai – editor, Storybook Dads

"It's called 'The Land of Dreams'. I wrote it for my little girl. Basically it's about me and my girlfriend being king and queen but we got overpowered by and evil king and an evil wizard. 'This story is called The Land of Dreams where dreams come true and love and hope win overall. I hope you like this story, Keira-lee, and it brings you happiness. '

Sharon Berry, Storybook Dads HMP Dartmoor

"The children just love it and we hear of all the families - extended families - coming round to the house to listen to the CD. "

Kerry – Reader, Storybook Dads

'Cinderella, you know the tale, I'm sure you do,of Cinders and her stupid shoe. And how her sisters were all hags...'Sharon obviously wrote it,and I asked her to do something for my daughter of that age group and she really, really enjoyed it. Obviously I phone her quite a lot,but it's something different for her when she had the DVD. She'd come home from school and listen to it. And my ex-partner said she'd go in the room and catch her crying,but it'd be in a nice sort of way.

Sharon Berry, Storybook Dads HMP Dartmoor

"We've done over 1,800 stories and that's a lot of families that have benefited from it. We can't stop it now because every week another prison gets in touch,'Can we join you?''How do we do it?''What do we need?.

Terri Bailey – Project Assistant, Storybook Dads

'"Well you're always surprised when you win an award but I knew it was well-deserved.

Sharon Berry, Storybook Dads HMP Dartmoor

"I was very proud to get it,you know, it's lovely to have the work recognised. "Sharon makes very light of what she's done but I know- because I work with her - that she works incredibly hard."

Terri Bailey – Project Assistant, Storybook Dads

"Well Tiara, I hope you have enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed reading this story to you. I cannot wait to be with you again and hold you in my arms. All my love,your daddy, Owen. Lots of love, I miss you with all my heart. Good bye for now, my love. Bye-bye."

"Moving onto our winner, who is Sharon Berry,Storybook Dad Department HMP Dartmoor, in Devon."

Superintendent Dave Wakelin – Sherwood Project Strategic Lead

Well this area was a mining town area and suffered quite badly up until three years ago with a heroin epidemic. And that's perhaps the best way of describing it. So several hundred offenders use heroin and are addicted to heroin and that had quite a profound effect on this community. The police knew who the offenders were,the Probation Service were dealing with some of them and the treatment agencies were treating some of them.

Kate Davies, Strategic Policy Director – Notts Drug & Alcohol Action Team

"But what we realised we weren't doing was actually joining up the needs of offenders,so people may well have been seeing someone in the custody suites,they may well have been actually also be seeing someone in treatment,but we weren't ensuring that that was a definite, consistent line."

Andy – Supervised offender, The Sherwood Project

"I had a chequered past: I [were] a career criminal, drug addict,started injecting amphetamine at 14.At the age of 25 started speed-balling with heroin, speed, dabbling with crack,everything really."

"The offer was put to Andy- work with us, and let's see what we can achieve - before you appear before the Crown Court judge.

Superintendent Dave Wakelin – Sherwood Project Strategic Lead

"It's police probation and the drug treatment services - and I say drug treatment services in its widest sense - and it is quite strange to be a police officer talking about whether an offender's getting the right level of training, drug treatment, education,or is their accommodation sorted out?But we've simply had to do something different to get a different result.

Andy – Supervised offender, The Sherwood Project

"A police officer that won't lock you up,would rather mentor you, help you just give you that support, that after-care. Just knowing that that's there for you from a police officer. Now, bearing in mind all [me] life I [were] running from them, but, I reckon, and I'm sure in [me] heart and in [me] head on this that is what won it over for me.

Superintendent Dave Wakelin – Sherwood Project Strategic Lead

"That simple message, you know, 'We will help you to sort yourself out and stop offending, if you come with us. But if you don't,then we'll stick to all the lawful enforcement means possible.

Andy – Supervised offender, The Sherwood Project

'"I've been clean just about, just under two years haven't I. Yeah, I've put some hard work in but it's thanks to this chap and his team. Through helping me it's helping communities, isn't it.

Superintendent Dave Wakelin – Sherwood Project Strategic Lead

"This is crime prevention at the front end. This town particularly has now got over 200 offenders in drug treatment,maintained on methadone or other substitutes. Cared for by GPs,cared for by partners that are part of the show of partnership,you know, and they're not on the streets committing crime.

Andy – Supervised offender, The Sherwood Project

"I'm training to be a drug worker,set up my own peer-support group,also just been offered a job at Probations, so life's good .Yeah, it's really good."

Kate Davies, Strategic Policy Director – Notts Drug & Alcohol Action Team

"Knowing that we had been nominated,knowing that we'd been shortlisted was good enough. That was recognition enough that we were on the right track. But actually to win the award and then win the overall award was a total surprise. It's done an awful lot of good for the morale of the team."

"The award goes to a team,and that team is the Sherwood Prolific and Priority Offender Project."

Superintendent Dave Wakelin – Sherwood Project Strategic Lead

"And to go back to that team as we did and said, 'Look, you've been identifed as the best,' it was absolutely fantastic.