KENT Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle has taken over as chairman of the Kent Criminal Justice Board.

He replaces Kent’s Chief Crown Prosecutor Elizabeth Howe who has chaired the Board since it was created two years ago.

The board’s aims include improving the experience for victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system and increasing the public’s confidence in the system.

Mr Barker-McCardle said: “During the coming year we will be focusing on reducing the number of court trials that do not go ahead on the planned day and making sure that the way victims and witnesses are treated in the criminal justice system is further improved.”

As well as Mr Barker-McCardle and Ms Howe, the Kent Board members are Christine Lawrie, Kent Probation Area Chief Officer, Glen Hopkins, Acting Manager of the Kent Youth Offending Service, Adrian Smith, Area Manager of Her Majesty’s Prison Service and Stephen Savage, Area Director for Her Majesty’s Courts Service.