University News Last updated 02 September 2022
Students from Birmingham City University’s (BCU) Schools of Law and Social Sciences graduated yesterday as part of three ceremonies that took place at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
The day’s celebrations were marked with the award of two Honorary Doctorates to highly influential figures in legal services Dr Grace Ononiwu CBE and penal reformer Frances Crook OBE.
Speaking after the ceremony, Dr Ononiwu highlighted the need for greater diversity in the legal profession, while Crook continues to campaign for a radical overhaul of the penal system in the UK.
“I would want to see the criminal justice system become more diverse. Progress has certainly been made but there is still quite a long way to go, I would like to see more diversity in the judiciary as well as in senior positions”, said Dr Ononiwu.
Receiving her CBE in 2019, Dr Grace Ononiwu accepted her Honorary Doctorate in recognition of services to law and order in the West Midlands, serving as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the region from 2014 until April last year.
Dr Ononiwu’s career began with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2005, when she was appointed as Chief Crown Prosecutor for Northamptonshire, becoming first Afro-Caribbean person to hold post of chief in the history of the CPS. Now based in Birmingham, Dr Ononiwu has since taken up a national role of Director of Legal Services for the CPS.
“I am a person who has achieved a lot in my career and been recognised for many firsts which is great, but it only matters if I’m not the last, this is so important for this cohort and those in the future”, added Dr Ononiwu.
Frances Crook OBE is the former Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, with her influence on the penal system remaining prevalent beyond her retirement last year.
Throughout her career Crook has been passionate and outspoken highlighting some of the key inequalities that remain in today’s penal system, as well as undertaking highly important work improving the treatment of young people in custody.
“I worked for over thirty years for human rights and justice and whilst I achieved significant reform when working with the police to reduce child arrests, it is disappointing that the government is allowing the criminal justice system to deteriorate so badly that it is failing victims, the taxpayer and prisoners”, said Crook in her speech.
She added: “When I started this work, I found the police carried out a third of a million arrests of children. After campaigning for a decade, they had reduced this to 70,000. That’s a massive reform. It meant that children didn't experience the terrifying trauma of being locked in a police cell, parents were not infuriated and alienated from the police, the police could concentrate on serious crime, and lo and behold, crime by children reduced. A success for everyone.”
“I am extremely honoured to be recognised by Birmingham City University and to have shared in the special day for the students graduating”, said Crook after receiving her Honorary Doctorate from BCU in recognition of her commitment to the penal system in the UK.
Dr Grace Ononiwu echoed those thoughts in her ceremony speech, whilst also encouraging graduates going into the legal profession to continue her legacy.
‘Gradates today and in the future need to say to themselves that they have the right to be here [working in law] and feel that they belong.”
“People like me won’t be here forever and I want to ensure that there is a legacy left behind. I want people to understand that they have a right to play a really big role in the criminal justice system that for me this is critical”, continued Ononiwu.
Both women have had pioneering careers in their chosen fields, tackling many social and professional barriers paving the way for those pursuing careers in law and the social sciences.
Yesterday marked the end of BCU’s summer Graduation ceremonies which saw more than 14,000 graduates crossing the stage at the prestigious Symphony Hall Birmingham to officially become alumni.