Reassuring Local Communities 29/08/07

29/08/2007

Crown Prosecution Service West Yorkshire, in partnership with Calderdale Council and West Yorkshire Police, is holding a special event for the Muslim and wider communities on 6th September 2007.

The Listening, Reassurance and Information event will be held at the Kings Centre, Park Road, Halifax. It is the first in a series of community engagement events to be undertaken with communities in West Yorkshire over the coming year, which will enable the CPS and other CJS agencies to explain their decision making processes and exchange information on issues of local concern. These include:

1. The prosecution of racially and religiously aggravated cases; and,
2. The prosecution of terrorist cases.

Speakers at the Seminar will include representatives from the Criminal Justice agencies with responsibility for and experience in handling and managing serious crime cases, including:

• Neil Franklin, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Yorkshire;
• Sue Hemming, Head of Counter Terrorism Division, CPS Headquarters;
• Ebrahim Dockrat, Independent Chair of the Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel in West Yorkshire;
• Kersten England, Group Director for Community Services at Calderdale Council;
• Councillor Mohammed Najib; and,
• Chief Inspector Gary Parker.

Neil Franklin, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Yorkshire said: "We hope this event will help local communities to understand more about the Crown Prosecution Service and our partners in the Criminal Justice System. But most importantly, the Seminar will provide local communities an opportunity to discuss issues which are important to them. We hope this will improve their confidence in the System."

Sue Hemming said: "Events such as these are an important part of CPS business. As a public organisation it is essential that we are open about what we do and why we do it and this seminar will allow us to do that in an interactive two way process greatly enhanced by the opportunity to listen to local community concerns."

Council Leader Ann McAllister, Calderdale MBC said: "The Council is keen to engage with and listen to all local communities. As part of our overall commitment to community engagement, this particular event provides an opportunity for people to both understand more about the Criminal Justice System and take the opportunity to discuss possible improvements."

Calderdale Council has been working closely with the CPS for many years. The Councils Hate Crime Co-ordinator has been involved with the nationally acclaimed Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel which aims to improve services to victims of hate crime.

For further information please contact Cheryl Ford on 0113 2902839.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. The event will take place between 6pm and 8pm on the 6th September 2007. Refreshments will be provided at 17.30.
2. Press agencies are encouraged to attend the event from 17.30 to 18.00 to informally interview guest speakers and take photographs before the event starts.
3. For further enquiries or interview requests please contact CPS West Yorkshire on 0113 2902839.
4. If you would like more information on the work of CPS West Yorkshire or West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board you can visit our websites at www.cps.gov.uk/west_yorkshire.