Justice Journey Event
5 June 2010
People with an interest in fighting crime in their
communities discovered how the criminal justice system works and
how offenders progress from arrest to punishment at a ‘Justice
Journey’ event organised by the SaferPeterborough
partnership.
Launching the event, Michelle Bernasconi of the Victims
Advisory Panel described her personal experiences of being a victim
of anti-social behaviour. This was followed by a presentation
detailing the partnership's new victim-focused approach to tackling
anti-social behaviour.
A demonstration of an offender’s journey through the criminal
justice system showed how criminal justice agencies work together
in dealing with an offender and the crime committed. It also
explained, for the same crime, how different punishments were
arrived at depending on the circumstances.
Senior officers of the SaferPeterborough partnership and
professionals from criminal justice agencies including the
Crown Prosecution Service,
Her Majesty’s Court
Service, the Magistracy and the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Probation Trust took questions from the audience
about subjects such as the Policing Pledge and court sentencing.
The event improved confidence in the system and encouraged more
members of the public to talk to and work with criminal justice
agencies. It showed police alone cannot tackle crime and
anti-social behaviour and that together we are providing joined-up
support for victims and we are challenging offenders with tough
choices – reform or be caught and punished.