Award winners justifiably recognised

AWARDS for people working in the Criminal Justice System in Suffolk have been presented in recognition for their roles in tackling crime.

At a ceremony at Ipswich Town Hall there were 11 awards given to people or teams for their work in turning offenders' lives around, providing indispensable support to victims and witnesses or going to great lengths to provide personal safety advice to the public.

Four out of the 11 winners in Suffolk have made it through to the top ten within their nominated categories in the UK, out of a pool of more than 700, and have the chance to get through to the National Justice Awards.

The four top winners include victim care officers, Pc Lindsay Poole and Pc Alison Sharman, who were chosen for their outstanding achievement in caring for witnesses.

The Witness Service volunteers at Ipswich Crown Court were selected for their achievement in caring for witnesses during early 2008 when they had a number of witnesses requiring full identity protection.

The team behind the development of the Welcome Pack website for newcomers to Suffolk (www.welcomepack.org), available in four different languages, was also hailed a success in demonstrating an outstanding commitment to diversity.

Paula Abrahams, chief crown prosecutor and chair of Suffolk Criminal Justice Board, said: “To see such an array of groundbreaking projects and people constantly going above and beyond their day-to-day duties is inspirational.

“It is a real tribute to the work that is being carried out across the Criminal Justice System in Suffolk.”

The national awards ceremony will be held on October 21.

Do you know someone who had won an award for doing something special? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk