17/03/06

The Sharp End, the monthly 36-page publication produced by Square One for the Home Office, has won the title of Public Service Magazine of the Year at the 2006 Charity and Public Service Publishing Awards.

The magazine achieves the tricky balance of presenting often very detailed police reform issues in an accessible and engaging way to an audience of frontline officers and staff.

The Sharp End is a great read for police officers and staff, and its relaxed style has achieved instant acceptance all over the country. It has helped the Home Office alter the perceptions of its time-poor, information-rich audience and gain in credibility.

The Sharp End ’s editorial manager, Steve McGrath, said: “The magazine goes from strength to strength and this award is yet another example of its effectiveness and success. Research shows that The Sharp End is well received, well read and well appreciated – no mean feat for a magazine operating in a difficult environment with a challenging audience. I'm delighted it's become a must-read publication for the frontline.”

The Charity and Public Service Awards, now in their 14th year, acknowledge the high standards achieved by the publishers of public service and charity publications.

The Sharp End has a circulation of 65,000 and a readership of 120,000 per issue.