On Friday 11 November 2005, at a National government awards ceremony in London, the Warwickshire Justice Centre Programme team, nominated by the Home Office, won the Office of Government Commerce 2005 Team Award for successfully delivering the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Nuneaton. The award recognises excellence in programme and project management, value for money and successful delivery of a major construction programme.

In particular the judges noted the success of the project in winning the support and commitment of all stakeholders and applauded the team's commitment to delivering a unique response to the community and to improving confidence in the Justice System in Warwickshire.

Warwickshire Justice Centre

Warwickshire Justice Centre was officially opened in Warwickshire in March 2005 by the Princess Royal who commended the unique centre for being the first in England and Wales to house in one building the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, a magistrates' court, a family court, the Probation Service, the Youth Offending Team and Victim and Witness Support.

Justice Agencies in Warwickshire have an excellent record for partnership working to support victims of crime and delivering improved performance.

Richard Lyttle, Warwickshire Justice Centre programme director said: "The partnership has been innovative in gaining funding from central government and national agencies to develop one stop Justice Centres where the justice agencies (Police, CPS, HMCS, YOT, Probation, Victim support and Witness Service) are co-located and integrated within one building. This supports and demonstrates in practice the delivery of local joined up justice. We are all very proud of our Justice Centre and this award is worthy recognition for all involved in making the centre a success"

The Justice Centre in Nuneaton provides 24-hour police access to justice services:

• 24 hour operational policing services
• Custody provision for police and courts with 32 cells
• Four courts used for Magistrates Courts, Youth Courts, Family Courts and Coroners Courts
• Open plan office areas for over 150 multi agency staff to enable joined up working
• Interview and group rooms for Probation programmes
• Independent decision making

The benefits to date include:

• Improved performance in the number of arrests, progress of cases and offenders brought to justice
• Improved confidence in victims giving evidence in Court
• Improved confidence in the justice agencies and access to services
• Improved working between agencies and sharing of information to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour
• Financial savings in respect of building provision and maintenance services
• Meets national strategies for delivering local joined up justice
• Safe and secure environment for staff

The project has been so successful that a second Justice Centre in the south of the county is in progress and due for completion in 2008.

The Centre has also been visited by Justice Agency representatives from USA, Northern Ireland, Scotland and other parts of the UK who are seriously considering how they can replicate the Warwickshire model.

John Burbeck, Chief Constable for Warwickshire said, "This is a great achievement and well deserved recognition for everyone involved in the development of the Northern Justice Centre. Warwickshire is leading the way in its efforts to deliver joined up justice and increase public confidence in the criminal justice services."