CPS celebrates International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate our CPS colleagues who are excelling in what they do and breaking through biases. This year, we met with inspirational women from across the organisation to hear about their experiences and how they face challenges.

“Let’s show what matters above all – skill, experience, expertise and competence”
Jaswant Narwal
Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Thames and Chiltern

When I look back over my life – from growing up, getting an education, and working – it’s the small things that have stood out and allowed me to take steps forward and make a difference.

Many times, I have been the only person who looks like me in the room. Those I manage are often assumed to be my bosses because they’re male and white. And because my name is Asian and doesn’t denote my gender, I’ve been an unknown entity.

Let’s show what matters above all – skill, experience, expertise and competence. I’m not going to be marginalised by staying where I’m put, squeezing myself in and accepting the status quo – instead I’ll take those stereotypes and consciously smash them every time.

Great progress has been made over the years and there are now more people who look and sound like me in senior positions. However, disparities still remain so we must all challenge assumptions and call out biases to remove gender barriers once and for all.

“My end goal: to rise above the biases of others”
Ade Olojo
Senior Business Manager, CPS London North

I first joined the CPS as an Administrative Officer, and I’m now a Senior Operational Business Manager responsible for allocating Crown Court cases to in-house advocates and instructing the external counsel for London North and South.

Biases are both conscious and unconscious, meaning some people don’t even know they’re doing it. I’ve faced challenges before, and sometimes still face them – but I know they can be overcome.
I’ve built resilience and my confidence has grown, and now I am in a position to achieve the best outcome for me and those around me.

I remain focused on my end goal: to rise above the biases of others.

“Life’s ups and downs have made me a better lawyer, manager and leader”
Josephine Lazzari
Senior District Crown Prosecutor, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, CPS Mersey Cheshire

Like many, juggling a career and home life has always been the norm. It has never held back my ambition – in fact, being a single mum and experiencing some of life’s ups and downs have made me a better lawyer, manager and leader.

I joined the CPS as a trainee when both my children were under 3 years old. 15 years and another baby later, I’m proud to have been working extensively to improve our response to cases that involve violence against women and girls. Coming from a background of working with domestic abuse victims, working for the CPS was a chance to make a real difference from inside the system and working on something that I’m genuinely passionate about has brought real job satisfaction.

Going full circle, I’ve since returned to Mersey Cheshire where I first started – but now as Head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit.

Throughout my time in the CPS, I’ve had the support of many great women across the organisation. I work hard to pay that forward by encouraging my colleagues, and the next generation of lawyers, to pursue their goals and #BreakTheBias.

“How can you work and be a carer?”
Ruth Patel
People Analytics and Strategic Workforce Planning Team

Outside of my role in the CPS, I provide care for my dad who has various medical difficulties and needs both practical and emotional support.

When we access services, it’s often assumed that caring is my full-time job and that I don’t work. Although not true in my case, it reflects the barriers that many unpaid carers face: how can you work and be a carer?

I feel fortunate that at the CPS I’m able to balance my own career, and being ‘people professional’ is a really important part of who I am. I’m driven by a passion for making work better and improving working lives, and it feels like the CPS really understands that.

Being able to balance working and caring means making a difference professionally and towards my dad’s wellbeing – that gives me a sense of fulfilment beyond any of these responsibilities alone.

“I was actively encouraged to seek promotions and progress my career”
Amanda Judd
Paralegal Business Manager, Pre-Charge Unit, West Midlands

I started my career in 1992 and, after a year, I passed the board to gain a promotion. After moving to the CPS offices in Birmingham I began to deputise on occasion, and I was actively encouraged by my line manager to seek promotions and progress my career.

At the time, I chose to not make the move because I was raising a young family and didn’t feel like I would be able to properly commit to a role with added responsibilities. Yet fast-forward a few years and a number of reviews with my managers, I decided to re-enter the promotion pool and began managing a team alongside a full-time colleague. I worked four days a week and, with support from my managers, had the flexibility to go to school functions and be there for my children when they needed me.

This support made me feel confident in my role, and since then I’ve been successful in another promotion and have now returned to full-time work.

“Whatever biases or obstacles you face, they can be overcome.”
Heidi Stonecliffe QC
Principal Crown Advocate, London South

When I joined the CPS in 2006, it was rare for barristers to practice advocacy in-house. A ‘Crown Advocate’ plays an important role in prosecution, acting on behalf of the Crown to achieve justice. Many women have chosen this route of employed practice for many different reasons – but still deserve to be recognised for their achievements as advocates.

The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg said: “Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks” and in March 2020, I became the first woman in the CPS to be appointed as Queen's Counsel.

By ‘taking silk’ while employed, I hope to have laid a foundation for other women in similar practice. Whatever biases or obstacles you face, they can be overcome.