Welcome


A High Sheriff is appointed for each county by Her Majesty and the Privy Council. Their office is for one year, starting on or after March 25th and they are charged with the task of protecting the judges in the Crown Court and of representing the Sovereign in relations with the Police. This aspect of the office is essentially titular although the High Sheriff has a wider brief to work with the voluntary sector in crime prevention, HM Prisons and probation.

After their Declaration Ceremony in which they swear loyalty and allegiance to Her Majesty, it is customary for them to host a Garden Party, normally in June, to which Judges, Officers of the Armed Forces, Statutory bodies and Voluntary Organizations in the County are invited.

In November the High Sheriff dedicates a service at St Albans Cathedral to Justice, at which he processes with the Judges, the Chief Constable and many Magistrates, Recorders, and Coroners all of whom work within the Justice System in Hertfordshire.

In March the High Sheriff presents the Crimebeat Awards, as well as the High Sheriff Awards designed to honour unsung heroes in the community. The Crimebeat Awards are to largely voluntary organizations who are involved in Crime Distraction as well as Crime Prevention. There is currently a particular emphasis to support groups working to reduce binge drinking, teenage violence, anti-social behaviour and the rising knife and gun culture.

Biography of the High Sheriff for 2009/10, Janie Wentworth-Stanley

The eldest of six children, Janie was brought up mainly in Oxfordshire.

Janie married Michael in 1975 and they have three daughters and settled in Hertfordshire over 20 years ago, where they have an arable farm. Apart from dogs, she has two Belted-Galloway cows, a pygmy goat and a turkey, all as pets.   She used to have pot-bellied pigs, and could be persuaded to have another.    Both Michael and Janie enjoy bicycling through the Hertfordshire countryside at the weekends.

Janie is interested in art, especially contemporary pictures, sculpture and portraiture and is the Marketing Director of Fine Art Commissions.

During her year of office as High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Janie will be involved with youth justice, crime deterrents and youth crime prevention. She will focus on drug and alcohol induced crime and rehabilitation.   Janie is currently the Chair of Pro-Action Hertfordshire, a charitable organization that works in partnership with the statutory youth service to create and facilitate educational and recreational opportunities for the young people of Hertfordshire.   This newly formed charity was created last year from the Hertfordshire Association of Young People and HYCVS.   Janie, together with the other founding Trustees, has appointed a Chief Executive and four District Co-ordinators who are working in the field throughout the County.