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Isle of Wight
County News
2009/2010
The way it turned out, I had spent much of my adult life involved with the criminal justice system, mostly on a voluntary basis, so I had spent much time considering the criminal rather than the victim or the criminal before the crime.
I decided to apply much of my year in Office to the business of keeping young people from their first visit to the police station. Obviously we sheriffs are not executive so all I could do was to help, in whichever way seemed welcome, the efforts of those already in the business of trying to prevent each young person from entering the world of criminal justice, as a criminal that is. This idea seemed to go down well with the agencies whose efforts are directed to this end and I spent time learning what projects and initiatives were already up and running on the Island. Some of them I knew about as they had applied to our High Sheriffs’ Trust for grants to assist them in their endeavours. Others were new to me.
I was interested and a bit surprised by the amount of work in this area done by the Fire and Rescue Service and very impressed to hear about their LIFE course offered to youngsters who have begun to give concern. These children are given a five-day course on being a (small) fireman. Five days spent with the rather heroic figures of the firemen who put on this course can make all the difference to these youngsters. I was invited to attend one of their Passing Out parades and was very touched by the obvious impression the course had made on those who had just completed it.
I was invited to be chair of the Youth Inclusion Forum, previously a role for someone from a statutory body. The Forum is populated by people from statutory bodies and directs public money to give the youth of the Island a better chance.
One of the ideas mooted early in my year was that the Forum should initiate a High Sheriff’s Award for which nominations were invited for children and young people who had overcome particular difficulties in their lives and who had achieved something special despite these difficulties. We had an Awards evening when ten of those nominated had a citation read out to an audience of their friends, families (where they had them), those who had nominated them and some of the usual great and good who kindly joined us, before they were given a certificate and had their photographs taken. What had made the ten special was that they had not only achieved something themselves, but had also helped others.
Global Rock Challenge events are special so I went over to Southampton to watch some of our students strut their stuff. The mini-plays they perform are quite amazingly sophisticated and very largely the product of the students’ own invention. Anything to encourage good behaviour, free from substance abuse, is worth effort and this scheme has been very effective.
 My enjoyment of other High Sheriffs’ company was indulged by seven of them joining me at the Isle of Wight Legal Service. I was delighted when Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, East and West Sussex and Somerset all came too. It was very jolly having them there and decent of them to take the trouble to cross the water. Their own services, different of course each from the other, were splendid and hugely enjoyable to be at.
Gay Edwards
High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight 2009/10
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