RESIDENTS are being given the unique opportunity to see inside Wiltshire's only prison.

Members of the public in Wiltshire and Swindon are being invited to attend an open evening at Erlestoke Prison on Friday, October 23.

Visitors will be able to take part in escorted tours of the buildings and meet some of the staff responsible for the running of the Category C prison. The event has been organised as part of Inside Justice Week, which is a major campaign that aims to open up the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to the public through a week of co-ordinated events.

The campaign will run from October 17-24 and seek to explain how the system works and show the people involved in delivering justice today. Activities in Wiltshire and Swindon for Inside Justice Week will be co-ordinated by the Wiltshire Criminal Justice Board (WCJB).

The WCJB - together with criminal justice agencies and partner organisations across Wiltshire and Swindon, including Erlestoke Prison - will stage a number of events to encourage people to get involved in local justice.

Research suggests that the more the public knows about how the CJS works, the more confident in it they become. It is vital that the public has confidence in the CJS. If people are confident, they are more likely to report crime or, if they are a witness, they are more likely to turn up and give evidence in court.

The timetable of local events for next month has just been finalised. They include a criminal justice roadshow that will visit locations across Wiltshire and Swindon, a You Be The Judge event and the official opening of Salisbury's new courthouse.

The open evening at Erlestoke will conclude the week-long programme of activities and also enable members of the public to meet staff from other criminal justice agencies. It will run from 5pm-7pm. Andy Rogers, Governor of Erlestoke Prison and Vice-Chair of the WCJB, said "Confidence in all parts of the Criminal Justice family and network in the county is important and the events of the week showcase agencies and their work at reducing re-offending and keeping the people of Wiltshire safe. The events planned are a celebration and exposure of the hard work that staff undertake for the benefit of all."

People who would like to visit Erlestoke should apply for tickets via the WCJB website: lcjb.cjsonline.gov.uk/Wiltshire.

Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications must be submitted by 10am on Monday, October 5.

17th September 2009