Local Criminal Justice Boards were established in 2003 to improve confidence in the criminal justice system, in particular to help witnesses, victims or crime or people from a black or ethnic minority community.

In 2004, Equinox was commissioned by Dyfed Powys Local Criminal Justice Board to draft and implement a broad communications strategy. Initially, the commission was for three months.

Equinox sought to raise the profile of the Board across the region through regular media relations activity complemented by marketing communications such as copy-writing and producing leaflets, posters and public information booklets.

The plan also included updating website information, producing an annual report and staff newsletters.

Following the success of this initial activity, Equinox was commissioned for a further 12 months to implement a broader communications strategy.

This included organising the first Local Criminal Justice Board annual conference in the UK and this was attended by more than 100 delegates from public, private and voluntary sectors.

Evaluation forms showed that 100 per cent of the delegates rated the overall planning and content of the conference as either “excellent” or “very good”.

Equinox was also instrumental in establishing the first Independent Advisory Group for local  criminal justice boards in the UK to represent the interests of the BME and gay and lesbian communities. This was complemented by media coverage in the local and regional print and broadcast media as well as regular roadshows and open days at magistrates courts.

Research has shown that there has been increased public awareness of the role of the Board and some of the Dyfed Powys initiatives have been emulated in other parts of the UK.