A NEW board will transform the way the criminal justice system works to catch, convict and rehabilitate criminals across North Yorkshire.
The Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), is made up of chief officials from the police, probation, courts, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Youth Offending Teams and prisons, and the North Yorkshire LCJB will play a vital role in the fight to reduce crime.
Board member Robert Turnbull said: "We are building on established, excellent relationships between the agencies involved.
"If we work together, we can be more effective in terms of producing results."
From April 1, the agencies will work together across the county to target key groups of offenders, to improve the quality of evidence brought into the court and to support victims and witnesses.
"With co-operation, they hope to greatly reduce the time taken to deal with persistent young offenders."
The Persistent Offenders Scheme, which targets the most prolific adult offenders, will be a key priority for all 42 LCJBs that have been set up across England and Wales.
Police and CPS staff in North Yorkshire have been trained to use a new computer programme, which identifies the most persistent offenders.
Home Office Minister Lord Falconer said: "The creation of the LCJBs is a fundamental change to the way things are run."
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