Working to cut crime and deliver justice in Essex

The Essex Criminal Justice Board sits at the centre of the Criminal Justice System in the county, the overarching aim being to ensure that Essex remains one of the safest counties in England and Wales in which to live, work and to visit.

The Criminal Justice Board brings together the chief officers from each of the core Criminal Justice Agencies in a non-statutory strategic partnership which has responsibility for overseeing and delivering criminal justice services across the county, covering the administrative areas of Essex County Council and the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock.

Information on crime and criminal justice related issues, formerly available via the Essex Criminal Justice Board’s website, can now be accessed via the DirectGov portal: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw.

The DirectGov website has information about: The Police including your rights if arrested; Types of crime; Crime Prevention; Reporting crime and anti-social behaviour; Going to Court, including serving as a juror; help for  Victims and Witnesses; Sentencing; Prison and Probation; Crime statistics; the judicial system; counter terrorism.

More information about the core criminal justice agencies in Essex, partnership organisations such as Victim Support, the NSPCC and Community Safety Partnerships can be found via the DirectGov portal, through the link to “local crime and justice”, or by following the links below to local websites.

Essex Probation works with offenders from first court appearance to completion of sentence to protect the public and reduce re-offending. They do this by delivering the sentences of the courts through credible and effective community punishments, including a range of programmes to change offending behaviour.

To find out more about Neighbourhood Policing in your area, as well as the latest news on criminals brought to justice in Essex, crime prevention and other information to help you stay safe and secure in your home, and in the community, please visit:  www.essex.police.uk 

In an emergency always call 999 to seek help, but for non-emergencies call 0300 3334444.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal prosecuting agency in England and Wales, providing charging advice to the Police and prosecuting cases in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

To find out more about how the CPS operates, and for the latest news on successful prosecutions in Essex, visit the Crown Prosecution Service website: www.cps.gov.uk/eastern

Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, with a remit to deliver justice effectively and efficiently. In England and Wales HMCS is responsible for managing: the Magistrates’ Courts; the Crown Court; County Courts; the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Tribunals Service.

To find out more about the work of Her Majesty’s Courts Service click on: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk.

Her Majesty’s Prison Service is responsible for holding prisoners securely, either while on remand before conviction, or following sentence. In addition to protecting the public by holding prisoners securely, HMPS is charged with reducing the risk of prisoners re-offending by delivering a range of interventions and programmes to address the issues that contribute to their offending behaviour.

To find out more about the work of Her Majesty’s Prison Service click here: www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

Victim Support is an independent charity that aims to help all victims and witnesses of crime. Its services are free of charge and completely confidential. Victim Support works closely with the Police and other criminal justice agencies, working on referrals from them, but you can contact Victim Support for help if you’ve been a victim of a crime, even if the crime has not been reported to the police. Victim Support also runs the Witness Service in every criminal court, to help people who have been called as witnesses.

To find out more about the work of Victim Support, or to volunteer with them, click www.victimsupport,org.uk

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales and helps people in need receive high quality legal advice, assistance and representation.

To find out more about the Legal Services Commission visit www.legalservices.gov.uk

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) aims to end cruelty to children in the UK by: campaigning for children’s rights and welfare; raising public awareness around issues relating to child abuse; running services for children, young people and their families; raising funds to maintain these services. The NSPCC accepts referrals from criminal justice agencies to support young victims of crime who are required to give evidence in courts. 

To find out more about the NSPCC visit: www.nspcc.org.uk

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are statutory bodies bringing together representatives of local authorities, the emergency services, health authorities, housing associations and other statutory and voluntary organisations to address crime and anti-social behaviour in your local community.

In the administrative areas covered by Essex County Council www.essex.gov.uk there are 12 Community Safety Partnerships, and information about the individual CSPs can be found at:

www.basildon.gov.uk 
www.braintree.gov.uk
www.brentwood.gov.uk
www.castlepoint.gov.uk
www.chelmsford.gov.uk
www.colchester-community-safety.org.uk
www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk
www.saferharlow.info
www.maldon.gov.uk
www.rochford.gov.uk
www.tcdrp.co.uk (Tendring Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership) www.uttlesford.gov.uk.

There are also Community Safety Partnerships in both the Unitary Authority Areas of Southend and Thurrock, which can be accessed at: www.southendcdrp.co.uk or
www.thurrock.gov.uk/safety.