New High Sheriff of Derbyshire sets out areas of focus

The newly installed High Sheriff of Derbyshire has been setting out the key areas she intends to focus on during her next 12 months in office.

Theresa Peltier has recently taken over the role from former Marketing Derby founder Michael Copestake.

The role of the High Sheriff dates back to Saxon times and historically was responsible to the monarch for the maintenance of law and order within their county.

Theresa, who began her career as a criminal law clerk at Smith Partnership, brings her 27 years of experience across three police forces, prior to her retirement in 2019 as head of equality at Derbyshire Police.

During her year, Theresa intends to shine a spotlight on Derbyshire’s deaf community, which is one of the largest in the UK.

She will also have a focus on women in prison, linking with the governor of Foston Hall Prison in Derbyshire, a closed category prison and young offenders institute for women aged 18 years and over, and the recently formed Friends of Foston Hall.

As the first black High Sheriff of the county to take up office, it holds particular significance, as the year also marks the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in 1948.

Supported by her partner George, they will be paying tribute to those from the Windrush Generation who have made a significant contribution to Derbyshire.

Having personal experience of adoption, for many years Theresa has sat on adoption and fostering panels, an area she is deeply passionate about.

She is a vice-chair for both Adoption East Midlands and Derby City Fostering and hopes to encourage others to consider fostering and adoption.

As with previous high sheriffs, she is keen to support crime prevention projects led by young people and encourage entries to the High Sheriff’s National Crimebeat Awards.

She said:  “I feel incredibly privileged and excited to be given this opportunity.

“I hope to visit those parts of Derbyshire unknown to me, use my platform to highlight good causes, link partners to bring about change and recognise great work.”