THE High Sheriff of Hampshire will give her view on the UK justice system in a lecture at the University of Winchester this month.
Amelia Riviere became a magistrate in 2010 and a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2020, before being sworn in as High Sheriff last year.
She acts as the King’s representative in the county for all matters relating to the judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.
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Ms Riviere said that her talk will “look at the individual elements of the system and how they interlink, from the magistrates courts through to the prisons”, with a focus on celebrating the roles volunteers – including magistrates, jurors and chaplains - play in the justice system, describing them as the “putty in the structure”.
Ms Riviere has an interest in substance addiction, especially among the young, having been a member of the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement Panel. She is also a member of the Crown Court Appeal Panel.
She is a trustee of Allegra’s Ambition, a trust supporting young, disadvantaged people through sport and nature; homeless charity, Trinity Winchester; and the Hampton Trust, which works to prevent violence, domestic abuse and social isolation.
Ms Riviere, who is nearing the end of her year as sheriff, said: “It has given me access to people and places I wouldn’t otherwise have seen. I have met incredibly impressive people who are doing extraordinary jobs within the system.”
Bill Davies, dean of the Faculty of Law Crime and Justice, said: “We are delighted to welcome Amelia to the University for our Inaugural High Sheriff’s Lecture.
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“We are lucky to have a speaker with such a wealth of experience in so many aspects of the wider justice system - a system in which many students from this faculty hope to pursue careers. We look forward to hearing Amelia’s insights and opinions.”
The High Sheriff’s free lecture will take place on February 21, beginning at 6.30pm in the Stripe Auditorium in the university’s King Alfred Quarter on Sparkford Road.
Complimentary welcome drinks will be available from 6pm. Parking is available in ‘The Dytche’ car park (entrance adjacent to Milnthorpe Lane).
Tickets for the event must be booked in advance, and can be found on EventBrite.
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