In support of the ‘First 100 Years’ project, CPS Wessex Chief Prosecutor Jo Jakymec outlines her journey to her current role, the support and challenges she has had along the way, and shares advice for women working in the Criminal Justice System.

To properly deal with Hate Crime it is vital that all incidents taking place are reported. Many go under reported, which is a problem considering the effect Hate Crime has on individuals, their families and a community.

I was excited to visit Portsmouth’s new custody suite. I have heard that this new Police Investigation Centre (or PIC) is a flagship building. I’d been to Portsmouth’s old suite a few years back so I was keen to see what had changed. More than that, I love that it’s called EPIC. My seven-year-old calls all good things ‘epic’, it felt like a good omen and I was pleased to be welcomed along for a shift. I was not disappointed.

Business Crime Reduction Partnerships work in partnership with the police and the local authority to reduce the negative impact of crime and disorder on businesses. They are a civil body in their own right governed by a body elected from its own member businesses. They share information and use jointly agreed enforcement rights to restrict access to premises and enforce self-established civil banning orders.

Today sees the start of ‘Operation Limelight’, a national operation at airports across the country to protect those that are vulnerable and at risk of Forced Marriage or Female Genital Mutilation.

Policing, the Criminal Justice System, support and intervention services all have to move and adapt with the changing nature of crime. But how do we know we are making the right decisions when it comes to shaping and investing in services or influencing policies?

Since the Police and Crime Commissioner first commissioned a Restorative Justice (RJ) service across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton in 2016, the number of people contacting or being referred to the service has been rising steadily. But should it really be used for any crime type, including domestic and sexual abuse cases?

Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM introduced by the United Nations 16 years ago. The policing response has developed considerably in Hampshire, developing partnership working through awareness training to equip those frontline services dealing with families to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

I recently had someone say to me that they thought of criminal defence work like ‘drain cleaning’ – a horrible job but someone has to do it!  I like to think that I managed to persuade him that actually it was an extremely fulfilling job but he was right about one thing; someone does have […]

My name is Joanne Jakymec, and I am the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Wessex, which covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Wiltshire.  

A couple of weeks ago, a survey of 2,100 people, commissioned by various associations of legal professionals, found that Justice is as important to most people as health and education, but also revealed an alarmingly widespread belief that justice favours the wealthy. As a Chief Constable, whose service is delivered for all ‘without fear or favour’, this made me reflect.

Many people will know that the Police and Crime Commissioner works closely with policing but the role beyond policing is sometimes less well known. This beyond policing role not only refers to the commissioned services he funds to support those affected by crime but also to the work with partners across the local justice system.

Anja Kimberley looks at how the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office consults and gathers views. Consultation is more than just asking questions, it’s listening and taking action, this two-way feedback system is essential, though cannot be done in isolation. Working with our partners is key to reaching as many individuals as we can, with everyone’s overall aim of keeping residents safer.

Anja Kimberley, Head of Performance and Information, shows how evidence is at the heart of decision making in the Commissioner’s office.