Justice Award

In 2009 CPS Dorset won a Justice Award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Engaging Local Communities'. The award was down to the great work that has been put into the Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement - Operational Panel.

Kate Brown, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, says: "The success of the Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement - Operational Panel is undoubtedly as a result of the calibre and commitment of the individuals who have volunteered to be on the panel. Their passion for ensuring that the right thing is done, not only by the Crown Prosecution Service, but the whole of the criminal justice service has been remarkable."

How are we doing?

In 2009/10 we prosecuted 753 cases of hate crime across all three areas, which resulted in 614 convictions.

Further Information

If you would like to find out more about the Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement Panels - Operational please read:

2009-10 Dorset Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel Annual Report (PDF Document)

2009-10 Hampshire & IOW Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel Annual Report (PDF Document)

2009-10 Wiltshire Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel Annual Report (PDF Document)

PDF Information

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Home » Working with our community » Tackling hate crime

Tackling Hate Crime

"Being a victim of crime is a traumatic experience for anyone.  Being victimised because of racial origin, religious beliefs, disability or sexual orientation is even more offensive and CPS Wessex is working hard to successfully prosecute cases of hate crime."  Nick Hawkins, Chief Crown Prosecutor.

Hate crimes are those which are motivated by hostility as a result of a victim's race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age or disability. We have specific policies tackling:

  • Domestic violence
  • Race and religious hate crime
  • Homophobic and transphobic hate crime
  • Disability hate crime
  • Crimes against older people

Full copies of these policies are available on the National CPS website.

Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement Panel - Operational

In 2008 each area within CPS Wessex set up its own Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel.  These are now called Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement Panels - Operational. The panels meet three times a year and are vitally important; they have a crucial part to play in helping us to ensure our service to victims and witnesses is always as good as it can be.

Panel members are drawn from local communities and involve a wide range of people from many backgrounds. The chair of each panel is an independent person, not linked with the CPS. A Senior Crown Prosecutor for their Area also sits on the panel to present the cases and answer any questions the panel may have.

The panel members are given access to concluded hate crime cases and then highlight best practice or suggest areas for improvement.