New Chief Executive David Wood takes over at Office for Criminal Justice Reform
18 Feb 2008
Ursula Brennan held the post of Chief Executive until May 2007, when she led the organisational review of the new Ministry of Justice. Jonathan Sedgwick was appointed interim Chief Executive from May. He now becomes Deputy Chief Executive of the Borders and Immigration Agency, with David Wood replacing Jonathan Sedgwick at the helm of OCJR, pending the recruitment of a permanent successor.
David Wood said: “I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead. This next year ahead will be challenging and interesting with Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) being given increased flexibility as to how to deliver the CJS Strategy, taking local priorities into account, a new Justice Public Service Agreement (PSA), further development and the expansion of the LCJB’s Beacon Approach into new areas and a shift in emphasis towards more front line support. I have found OCJR a very ‘can do’ organisation and have no doubt of the ability of staff to rise to these challenges.”
David Wood joined OCJR in January 2006. He was previously the Executive Director for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, where he was employed as deputy to the Police Ombudsman dealing with complaints and misconduct involving the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Prior to this appointment, David had a long career in the Metropolitan Police Service rising during the course of 31 years from police constable to Deputy Assistant Commissioner. During that time, he served mainly as a detective officer investigating crimes and leading teams or departments of detectives focused on combating organised crime.
Notes to Editors:
1.The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) is the cross-departmental team that supports all criminal justice agencies in working together to provide an improved, modernised and more efficient service to the public, victims and witnesses.
2.It is involved in a series of reforms aimed at delivering a more effective, transparent and responsive Criminal Justice System (CJS).
3.Under the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) for justice, which comes into effect in April, it is focusing on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the CJS in bringing offences to justice; improving public confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the CJS; improving victim satisfaction with the Police, and victim and witness satisfaction with the CJS; providing consistent collection, analysis and use of good quality ethnicity data to identify and address race disproportionality in the CJS; and the recovery of £250 million of criminal assets (by 2009/10).
4.Since July 2004, OCJR is a fully shared resource joining up the work of the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Attorney General’s Office and Law Officers’ Departments such as the police and Crown Prosecution Service.
5.While the Departments lead the reform process jointly at national level through the National Criminal Justice Board, 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) lead local action across England and Wales, supported by OCJR.
6.Information on OCJR can be found at http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk/the_cjs/departments_of_the_cjs/ocjr/index.html
7.Information on the Ministry of Justice organisational review can be found at http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/announcement290108a.htm
8.Media contact: Alan Wheeler. Phone: 020 7035 1714. Email Alan.Wheeler@cjs.gsi.gov.uk. Additional media contact: Peter Morris. Phone 020 7035 8734. Email Peter.Morris5@cjs.gsi.gov.uk