What is Crimebeat?

Simply put it's a fund that gives Money to Young people
who have a good idea about how to improve their community.

Want to know more? read on....

Background Information

The Office of High Sheriff, or Shrievalty, is the oldest secular office after the monarchy and dates from Saxon times. The Sheriff originally enforced the King's writ in the country. The land, after all, belonged to the king and he was due levies on it. It was also his duty to do justice and help keep the peace through the "posse comitatus" and later the militia. This role was delegated to the king's deputy (the reeve) in the Anglo-Saxon shires, or counties - hence "shire-reeve", or sheriff.

Although the office held many of the powers now vested in Lord Lieutenants, High Court Judges, Magistrates, Coroners and Local Authorities, the High Sheriff remains the sovereign's representative in the county for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. High Sheriffs are responsible for duties conferred by the crown through warrant from the Privy Council, which include ensuring the well-being and protection of High Court Judges on circuit, attendance at royal visits to the county, acting as Returning Officer for parliamentary elections in the county constituencies, proclaiming the accession of a new sovereign, maintaining the loyalty of subjects to the Crown and executing High Court writs, as well as a number of other ceremonial functions. In practice some of these responsibilities are delegated to professional services, for example the protection of the Judges and the maintenance of law and order are in the hands of the Chief Constable of Police.

The Sheriff's Act 1887 consolidated the law relating to the Office of Sheriff and the post is now held for one year. A nomination ceremony is held each November in the Royal Courts of Justice. Three names are put forward for the Office of High Sheriff in each county and one of them is selected by the Sovereign at a subsequent meeting of the Privy Council, when, by ancient custom, the appointed name is 'pricked with a bodkin.' The office is independent, non-political and unpaid. High Sheriffs have a particular interest in law and order and pay special attention to the work of such statutory bodies as the police, the prison service and the probation service. In recent years, the Crimebeat charity has enabled the High Sheriff of Cheshire and other counties to play an active role in the reduction and prevention of crime, particularly among young people.