Page 70 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

Profiles

DISCOVER

THE CARIBBEAN

& BEYOND

Grace Ononiwu

Chief Crown Prosecutor, West Midlands

Grace was appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) for the
West Midlands in June 2014, becoming the first woman and
black person to hold the post.
She received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the
University of Hertfordshire in 2017, in recognition of her
contribution to justice and the legal system, including her
ongoing work to promote legal education.
She is responsible for all the prosecution decisions and
conduct of cases by CPS lawyers across the area. She also
& Religion
has a personal involvement in many of those cases and
there are occasions when she meets victims of crime or their
families to explain the reasons for the decisions taken in
cases that involve them. Prior to that she was the CCP for the
East of England Area for two years.
Grace qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and originally
joined a private firm of solicitors in High Wycombe
practising criminal law. She joined the CPS in 1991 as a
Crown Prosecutor and has since held a number of positions
in the CPS, which led to her ultimate appointment as
Northamptonshire CCP in April 2005, making her the first
person of African heritage to be appointed to that position.
In April 2009, Grace was appointed Legal Director for OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Politics, Law
North Region, CPS London, before becoming Deputy Chief
Crown Prosecutor (DCCP) for the London Districts.
Grace has made a significant contribution to the CPS
Equality and Diversity agenda and was Chair of the National
Black Crown Prosecution Association.
Grace also has a national role within the CPS, which
includes membership of strategic boards dealing with issues
affecting the Service across the whole of England and Wales.
She is a member of the National People Strategy Board and Special fares on Economy, Premium & Business travel
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She was awarded an OBE in 2008.

66 Powerlist 2019