David Smith

This December representatives of the Criminal Justice Council visited Lichfield District Council to find out how the local authority and its partners are working to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour
 
Representatives from the prestigious Criminal Justice Council, which monitors and shapes how the country’s criminal justice system works, visited Lichfield District Council earlier this month. They came to hear how the council and its partners are delivering innovative approaches that are helping to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour locally, through the Local Strategic Partnership.

The Criminal Justice in Action event featured a series of case studies that illustrated how the partnership is working to prevent crime and the chances of criminals re-offending.
 
Councillor David S. Smith, Leader of Lichfield District Council, who represents local government on the Criminal Justice Council, said: “Councils, along with their partners, have a key role to play in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour locally. From using our licensing powers to create safer environments, through to providing positive activities for young people - who might otherwise get involved in criminal activity, what we do impacts the local community.  We were delighted to welcome representatives from the Criminal Justice Council. It was an opportunity to share a range of case studies on local projects, which highlight how working together locally can deliver tangible results."
 
Discussions also took place about the role of the courts and the opportunities for closer working relationships between the judiciary and local community teams. The impact of substance misuse was a key theme running throughout the event, and calls were made for more funding to be directed towards services that combat alcohol misuse.

“This was a rare, if not unique, opportunity for a wide range of policy makers, strategists and practitioners to meet and share an understanding of the local and national criminal justice landscape. To have been visited by such high profile people, who help set the national agenda on the way we fight and reduce crime, was a great compliment and shows that we are leading the way in working together to tackle this complex issue,” continued Cllr Smith.
 
The Criminal Justice System . . .
 
The purpose of the Criminal Justice System is to deliver justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent. It is responsible for detecting crime and bringing it to justice, and carrying out the orders of court, such as collecting fines, and supervising community and custodial punishment.

The Criminal Justice Council works:
 
•            to keep the criminal justice system under review
•           to advise the Government on the form and manner of implementation of criminal justice reforms and to make proposals to it for reform
•            to advise on the framing and implementation of a communication and education strategy for the criminal justice system

The Staffordshire Hoard book is now on sale at the Tourist Information Centre in the Lichfield Garrick
 
Lichfield District Council’s tourism service is reminding everyone to pick up their copy of The Staffordshire Hoard – a glossy, beautifully arranged book about the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasures ever to be found.
 
The book, published by The British Museum Press and written by Kevin Leahy and Roger Bland, is the perfect last minute Christmas book or treat to spend your Christmas money on.
 
It features stunning photos of choice pieces from the collection, as well as the story of how the hoard was discovered, a brief overview of Anglo-Saxon England, and the next steps for the hoard.
 
This book really gets over the enormity of what a find of this magnitude means. As the only hoard of gold and silver objects ever to be found from this period, that were not discovered in grave burials, it’s totally unique. Found just outside of Lichfield, the Staffordshire Hoard has even more significance for local people. This book is a must for every coffee table in the district. It’s stylishly done, and full of interesting facts, and buying a copy will also help to keep the hoard in the region as £1 from the book goes to the appeal fund.”
 
The Staffordshire Hoard is available to buy for £4.99 from the Tourist Information Centre in the Lichfield Garrick.
 
The Tourist Information Centre opens from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Over the festive period, it will close at 3.30pm on Thursday 24 December, and will not open again until Tuesday 29 December. It will then close at 4pm on Thursday 31 December. It will be closed on Friday 1 January and Sunday 3 January. Normal opening hours will resume on Monday 4 January.

Last week, the men and women who make the local business world tick, gathered together at this year’s Midlands' Business Awards, to celebrate the very best in West Midlands’ business.
 
Sponsored by some of the biggest businesses in the region, including phone box, Aston Villa and Challinors Solicitors, the awards include categories ranging from retailer of the year, through to employee of the year.
 
This year, the Lichfield Community Support Award, sponsored by Lichfield District Council, was awarded to The Lichfield Festival. We were delighted to sponsor the Lichfield Community Support award, and even more delighted that the Lichfield Festival scooped the top spot. From helping local school children to get involved in the arts, through to offering hundreds of volunteering opportunities, The Lichfield Festival is a key part of the local community.
 
Other Lichfield District winners include Heritage Stairlifts - winners of the New Business award, Robert Carr Jewellers who were highly commended in the retailer of the year, and St Johns House - one of Lichfield’s most luxurious bed and breakfasts, which was highly commended in the ‘new business’ and ‘customer service’ categories.
 
The Midlands' Business Awards is not just about winning, it is also about raising money for a local charity. This year’s chosen charity was The Midlands Air Ambulance, which is responsible for funding and operating three Air Ambulances serving the Midlands and Welsh border region. Flying its first mercy mission in 1991, the organisation is regarded as one of the longest established and busiest Air Ambulance operators in the UK. This year’s awards helped to raise £4,000.

Photo: In the photo I am presenting Midlands' Business Award to The Lichfield Festival team