25 June 2007
Sheriffs' award for outstanding bravery - nominate now
- Open to anyone to nominate
- Winner honoured at Guildhall in October + £2,000 prize and name
listed in Old Bailey Book of Honour
The newly appointed Master of The Company of Security
Professionals, Peter French, today called for nominations for the
2007 Sheriffs’ Award for bravery, designed to honour individuals or
organisations who have shown unusual courage or initiative in
protecting people, property or liberty.
The award, named after the country’s ancient law-enforcers, the
City of London Sheriffs (who still help look after the UK’s Central
Criminal Court at the Old Bailey), is being organised by the
Company of Security Professionals.
Nominations are invited from the general public, businesses,
emergency services and the Armed Forces. Entry forms are available
online at the Company of Security Professionals'
website.
Lord Mayor John Stuttard, himself a former Sheriff said:
“Although the City has a modern job ensuring the Square Mile
remains the world’s leading international financial and business
centre, at the core of our centuries of success are the timeless
values of probity, integrity and the rule of law equal for
everyone.
“The Sheriffs represent these values – which are why they are
based at the Old Bailey – and I support the Sheriffs’ Award to
honour the brave who protect life, property and liberty.”
Alderman Sheriff-Elect Ian Luder said:
“The Sheriffs’ Award is a superb initiative by the Company of
Security Professionals. It recognises extraordinary bravery by our
fellow citizens, and I am delighted to be associated with this
Award”
Master of the Company of Security Professionals, Peter French,
said:
“Selflessness and community service are vital qualities in a
successful security professional, the people who make the Square
Mile such a great place to live, work and study. This imaginative
award, only the second Sheriffs’ award in the last 1000 years,
underlines the importance of security professionals to the success
of the City of London.”
The eight year-old Company of Security Professionals, which
numbers 270 members, is a modern version of the trade guilds that
maintained quality-control in goods and services during the Middle
Ages. The company is on track to become the City’s 108th Livery
Company, a rank referring to the ancient right to wear a special
“uniform” and take part in elections for the Lord Mayor.
Uniquely among local authorities, the City of London Corporation
runs and co-funds a major Court, the Old Bailey - a task it
undertakes as part of its long-established role providing special
services for the wider UK. The two Sheriffs of London reside at the
Old Bailey in recognition of their 1,000-year-old role in
supervising law and order. All Lord Mayors of the City of London
need to have served as Sheriff.
Media contact: Cubby Fox, City of London Press Office on 020
7332 3451
Notes
- The City of London Corporation supports the business City as
the world's leading international financial and business centre as
part of its role in providing local government services for the
Square Mile. The City’s Lord Mayor travels the world, facilitating
links between the UK-based financial services industry and
fast-growing nations, working alongside the FCO, UKTI and the
Treasury.
- The City provides local authority services to the Square Mile
and other “extra” services to London and the UK, including running
the Old Bailey, the wholesale food markets and the Heathrow Animal
Reception Centre, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, the Barbican Arts
Centre and many other world-class facilities and services.
- The Sheriffs, who attend the Lord Mayor and the sessions at the
Central Criminal Court, have many important civic roles. Although
they no longer have an executive function as law officers, Sheriffs
act as hosts at the Old Bailey and assist the Senior Judge, the
Recorder of London, in supervising Lord Mayor elections. To have
served as Sheriff is an important pre-condition for Lord Mayors.
See the webpage about the Sheriffs.