Taking the advice of London's communities

Consultation with the community plays a vital part in shaping CPS London's business planning and policies.

As well as a Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel, which offers feedback on how CPS London handles hate crime cases, the Service has formed a Community Involvement Panel.

Drawn from the community, its members have already helped CPS London to formulate business, equality and diversity and community engagement plans and have discussed victim and witness issues.

Meeting quarterly, the panel is chaired by either Chief Crown Prosecutor Dru Sharpling or Operations Director Lesley Burton. Members of staff are also invited to attend meetings.

Input from the panel has helped CPS London draft its Area Business Plan for 2008-09. Members felt the precise role of the CPS should be better explained and references to processes, initiatives and abbreviated terms should be clarified.

The panel members are: Yvonne Okiyo, London Borough of Lambeth, Edmond Yeo, Chinese Information and Advice Centre, Arun Batra, London Development Agency, Mira Goldberg, RNID, Dr Theo Gavrielides, Race on the Agenda, Dennis Carney, Black LGBT consultant, David Michael, Lewisham Police Consultative Group, and Uanu Seshmi.

Uanu Seshmi is Director of the From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation. The Foundation helps children and young adults in danger of school exclusions or involved in high-risk behaviour.

Offering one of the UK's leading and innovative educational and self-development programmes, the foundation has helped more than 11,000 young people since it was established in 1996.

Some have returned to school or college, and many have gained academic qualifications. All have reassessed their attitudes, behaviour and direction in life. For further information, see www.usatfbmf.com