Swindon Probation Officer Receives Top National Award

James Bamford (Human Geography, 2000, Grizedale) has received the Princess Royal's 'Prize for Outstanding Achievement'.

James is a Senior Probation Officer with Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire Community Rehabilitation Company (BGSW CRC) and has gained one of the highest accolades in the justice sector.

He was presented with the award by the Butler Trust’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, at St James’s Palace in London, on 1 April 2015. The award recognises James' 'all-round excellence in his work as a probation officer in Wiltshire.'

The Butler Trust Annual Awards, now in their 30th year, recognise outstanding contributions by people working in UK prisons, probation and youth justice.

After the ceremony, James along with other award winners and commendees joined senior figures from criminal justice over afternoon tea and met The Princess again as well as the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation, Andrew Selous MP.

James Bamford said of his award: 'I feel very proud that this work has been recognised. In the assessment panel interview, the judges were particularly interested in what my team has been doing to raise awareness of mental health issues such as personality disorders. Our job is to try and predict the unpredictable. The more psychological understanding we have, the more we can help our service users as well as protect our communities.'