Willy Bach & Paul Catley
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach has spoken of his delight at receiving an honorary degree in recognition of his services to law and social justice.
The PCC received the accolade from the Open University Law School in Milton Keynes during a ceremony held at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 25 October, which highlighted his achievements over a justice and politics career spanning more than four decades.
Willy Bach said: “I’m very honoured to receive this honorary degree from the Open University Law School.
“I have been involved with the law throughout my career and I am pleased to be in a position where I can continue to fight on behalf of vulnerable people today as Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
“This honour reflects the tremendous efforts of the members of the Bach Commission who worked so hard on ‘The Right to Justice’. I thank them all.”
Born in London, Willy was educated at New College Oxford before being called to the Bar in 1972. He practised law in Leicestershire for several decades before becoming head of chambers at King Street.
Initially becoming involved in the Labour Party before university, he went on to serve as a councillor in Leicester, Harborough and Lutterworth Town Council, where he also served as Mayor.
He stood for election to Westminster several times and was appointed a member of the House of Lords in 1998, holding posts in the Whips office, the Ministry of Defence and at DEFRA before moving to the Ministry of Justice.
He also served as Shadow Attorney General and Shadow Legal Aid Minister.
One of his best-known contributions was chairing the Bach Commission on access to justice which proposed a right to justice mirroring access to education and healthcare for all citizens.
Willy was elected as Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2016.
He remains a patron of both the Greater Manchester Law Centre and the Central England Law Centre in Coventry and Birmingham.
Ends
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair - 01283 821012 / 07702 541401
Posted on Thursday 31st October 2019