An interactive drama which reveals the consequences of law breaking and has been seen by thousands of teenagers across North Wales has won a prestigious award.
Award recipients (Photo copyright @prisonimage.org)‘Justice in a Day’ has been recognised with a national award in the ‘Policing and Children’ category in the Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards.
The production, was one of seven projects to be shortlisted in the category alongside the ‘Gwynedd and Mon Rural Bureau’, and was announced as on one of the winners.
“PACT and Clwyd Theatr Cymru are delighted to have won,” said Dave Evans, PACT Project Manager at North Wales Police.
“Justice in a Day has been running since 2010 and has constantly received positive feedback from both the young people and teachers who attend. A dedicated team of actors delivers the project, which is created and directed by Emyr John. A great deal of hard work goes into organising and delivering this unique cross-sector partnership project. We are delighted that it was not only considered for the award but to have won is fantastic, and I would like to thank all our many sponsors and supporters who have helped to make all this possible.”
It is estimated that around 3,500 pupils from across North Wales have seen the day-long interactive performance workshop. It takes the viewing teenagers on a journey following a fictional character from the time they break the law through to sentencing at a real Magistrates Court. As each of the scenes develop, so do opportunities for the youngsters to investigate the cause and effect of being involved in law breaking – not just for the offender but also on the victim, their families and the wider communities. The format of the workshop also gives teenagers the opportunity to ask delving or difficult questions in a safe environment and become involved in frank, honest and open investigation in the aim of deterring them from going down the route of criminality.
Each year a different scenario is developed for the new audiences and investigates issues that can affect Year 8 and Year 9 students in their day to day lives.
Tim Baker, Associate Director, Clwyd Theatr Cymru said: “We are very proud to receive this award. A perfect example of working in partnership. A testament to all of our work with young people at CTC, in particular the power of theatre to stimulate debate and change lives.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC said: “I am delighted the excellent Justice in a Day programme has received this richly-deserved honour.
“I feel that very often the criminal justice system is a mystery to young people. They have little idea of how it works and how courts and other agencies involved in cases arrive at what are often highly complex decisions.
“I think for young people to see how the criminal justice system works as a whole and how crime can affect so many people whether it is parents, victims, witnesses or the offenders themselves, will make many think seriously of the consequences of offending.”
David Williams, MBE, Chair of Trustees, Police and Community Trust said: “It is a tremendous achievement that our Justice in a Day programme has impressed such a national body as the Howard League for Penal Reform. The programme has been core to the Police and Community Trust ( PACT ) activities and over the past few years has received much praise from so many stakeholders but more particularly from the staff and pupils of the schools that have taken part.
“Justice in a Day has the ability to change law breaking perceptions and behaviors in young people for the better, on a sustainable basis. We are delighted to be working with the School of Psychology at Bangor University to further evaluate and develop the programme.
“The Howard League Award encourages us to bring Justice in a Day to more and more schools throughout not just North Wales but the whole of the country.”
David Williams, Chair of PACT, together with Winston Roddick Police and Crime Commissioner, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki, and Julina Sandham Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
Note:
Further details on the Howard League for Penal Reform and the Howard League Community Awards can be gained by accessing their website