History of the Charity

The office of High Sheriff is at least one thousand years old. It is the oldest secular office under the Crown and dates from Saxon times. Although many of the powers previously vested in the office have been transferred, High Sheriffs remain the Sovereign's representative in each County for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.

High Sheriffs remain in office for one year and are encouraged to undertake duties to help voluntary and statutory bodies engage in the maintenance and extension of law and order.

In recent years High Sheriffs in Leicestershire & Rutland and many other parts of England and Wales have been actively involving young people in the reduction and prevention of crime. In the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland, the High Sheriffs support LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND CRIMEBEAT, which was foundered in 1993 by the then High Sheriff, Robin Murray-Philipson OBE and registered as a charity in February 2001.

Until 2005, Leicestershire & Rutland Crimebeat was extremely successful in encouraging and funding young people to develop their own ideas to help combat crime and promote community safety with over 550 projects receiving its support and funding in that time.

For 10 years, Crimebeat was also involved in running Safety Squad, an annual 10-day educational event. Working in partnership with Leicestershire Constabulary and both Leicester City & Leicestershire County Councils, around 900 Year 6 pupils (aged 10/11 years) each year were taught vital safety messages at a temporary outdoor location.

In 2005, Crimebeat decided to create a permanent indoor education centre where each year every Year 6 pupil has the opportunity to actively engage in experiential learning that is linked to PSHE/Citizenship, Healthy Schools Programme and the Every Child Matters outcomes. The centre, called WARNING ZONE, opened in October 2006 and today schools from all over Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland come to WARNING ZONE throughout the academic year.