CPS colleagues recognised in New Year's Honours List

Congratulation to our colleagues who have been recognised for their contribution to the justice system in the New Year’s Honours List published on 31 December 2021.

Tara Garlo, a paralegal assistant, in the CPS’s International Justice & Organised Crime, is made an MBE.

For nearly 20 years, Tara Garlo worked in our Extradition Unit’s operational delivery team. In 2005, Tara helped to establish a specific unit for extradition matters, spending the remainder of his career focused on this, allowing him to become the most experienced and knowledgeable paralegal on the unit. The unit was at the forefront of the CPS’s Brexit preparations and international judicial engagements, during which Tara played a leading role in preparing data and information for the transitional period, both pre-and-post Brexit. 

Rhian Thomas, the head of business centre at CPS Cymru/Wales, is also made an MBE. 

Rhian has been involved at the forefront of Welsh language provision in the justice sector in Wales for a number of years.  She was a member of the Justice Wales Network and she has ensured throughout that the CPS has had high level representation on the Lord Chancellor’s Welsh Language Standing Committee, a body that reports back to the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor on how justice organisations operational in Wales approach Welsh language service delivery.  Rhian’s passion for the Welsh language has ensured that the CPS has been able to contribute to improving its Welsh language services over the years.

Michelle Brown, lately Senior District Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England, is made an OBE.

Michelle’s work as the Area Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls involved her working with Essex Criminal Justice Unit to lead the transformation of case quality for domestic violence where previously high levels of cases were rejected. Her work resulted in a more efficient system, successful outcomes for victims and an improved reputation not only for the CPS but partners within the Criminal Justice System. 

Michelle also worked with the Home Office on modern slavery and human trafficking. She took a leading role in this work which has fundamentally improved the response to crime and performance in this field in particular custody time limits and youth cases.