THE Suffolk Criminal Justice Board scooped the big prize at the annual Communic8 Awards, organised by the Communicators in Business East Anglia.Praised for its three-stage communications strategy to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system, the Suffolk Criminal Justice Board was named the Golden Communicator of the Year and will automatically go forward for the National Communic8 Awards.

THE Suffolk Criminal Justice Board scooped the big prize at the annual Communic8 Awards, organised by the Communicators in Business East Anglia.

Praised for its three-stage communications strategy to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system, the Suffolk Criminal Justice Board was named the Golden Communicator of the Year and will automatically go forward for the National Communic8 Awards.

It was among several winners announced at a gala evening tat the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket earlier this month.

The awards received a bumper crop of brochures, newsletters, web site and new media entries which were judged by a panel of experts including CiB East Anglia chairman Phillip Brooks, past national chairman and editor in chief at BT Ken Runicles and experienced corporate communicator Diana Flower.

Media group Archant, whose titles include the East Anglian Daily Times, was another winner, picking up the trophy for best internal publication for its staff newsletter Archant Network. Other local winners included Colne Housing from Colchester, Shergroup solicitors in Braintree and Spicerhaart in Colchester.

The awards seek to recognise the skills and talents of communication professionals whose creativity, tenacity and commitment to clear and truthful communication are helping organisations work effectively with their employees and clients, said the CiB.

Commenting on this year's awards, Mr Brooks said: “The quality of entries was extremely impressive and shows that the East Anglia region is full of creative individuals and organisations which are able to deliver powerful messages that create tangible results.”

The full list of category winners and runners-up are as follows:

Internal Publications (12 pages or less)

Winner - Essex Police (The Law)

Award of Excellence - Basildon and Thurrock University (Hospital - In the News), Project PR (@Ford Retail)

Internal Publications (more than 12 pages)

Winner - Archant (Network)

Award of Excellence - Cambridgeshire County Council (Countywide), University of Essex (wyvern)

External Publications (12 pages or less)

Winner - Colne Housing (C-mail)

Award of Excellence - Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (The Pulse)

External Publications (more than 12 pages)

Winner - South Cambridgeshire District Council (South Cambs)

Award of Excellence - Cable and Wireless Pensioners Association (CAWPA News), Cambridgeshire County Council (East Cambridgeshire), PMA Media Training (Attract London)

Brochures, Annual Reports and Reviews

Winner - Sowerby Group (Care Aspirations)

Award of Excellence - Essex Police (When I Leave School), Mackman Group (Smugglers Wharf), Wyboston Lakes (Relax, Dine & Stay)

New Media

Winner - Shergroup DVD

Award of Excellence - Cambridgeshire County Council (Cambridgeshire Together), Fisher Jones Greenwood (i-legal), Spicerhaart (valunation)

Website

Winner - Wyboston Lakes (www.wybostonlakes.co.uk)

Award of Excellence - Local Secrets, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Project PR (www.teamipswich.com), Red Tiger Design (www.beauty-magazine.co.uk), Shergroup

Photography

Winner - Spicerhaart (Fine haart magazine)

Golden Communicator of the Year

Winner - The Suffolk Criminal Justice Board