Liberal Democrats call for Community Justice

12.10.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Nov 2006

Liberal Democrats want to tackle anti-social behaviour effectively

Sheffield's Liberal Democrats are pressing the Labour council to keep their promise of putting the City forward to receive funding for a 'community court' to pioneer a new form of justice. However, the Labour Government are now backtracking on the idea and it seems unlikely Sheffield will receive support to deal with anti-social behaviour.

At a meeting of Council in June this year the Council committed to ask for a 'Community Justice Centre' as a result of Liberal Democrat proposal. It has recently been revealed that, following the successful pilot of the scheme in Liverpool, the Government will role the courts out into 10 other areas of the UK.

Liberal Democrats are calling on the council to hold true to their word and lobby the Government heavily to ensure that Sheffield is one of ten new areas. Lib Dems believe that a 'Community Justice Centre' could make a real difference in tackling anti-social behaviour and crime in neighbourhoods around Sheffield.

Lib Dems believe that punishment for community crime should be designed to benefit the community it affects. They also believe that local people feel isolated from the current legal process and that this scheme would help put justice right at the heart of the community.

Councillor Bob McCann, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet for Safer Neighbourhoods, said: -

"Following the successful pilot we must ensure that Sheffield is at the front of the queue to lobby for a new community justice centre like the one in Liverpool. Although it seems the Labour Government are reluctant to give us the resources we need, we must keep the pressure on"

"Its clear that crime committed in the community affects the quality of life for local people. This new brand of community justice would re-address the balance and see offenders repay their debt to society in a way supported and shaped by local people"

"We have seen that the scheme is working well in Liverpool. It is exactly the sort of restorative justice that can be effective in Sheffield, making our neighbourhoods a better place to live. This is why it is vital that the council hold true to their word and ensure that Sheffield gets the funding and resources on offer to help make our neighbourhoods safer"

Information on 'Community Justice Centres': -

A 'Community Justice Centre' (CJC) is a court situated at the heart of a community. It has a single judge and allows local people to have their say in how justice gets done locally. The centre combines the power of a courtroom with a range of community resources available to local residents including victims, witnesses and offenders.

CJC's deal with anti-social behaviour and cases involving crimes committed in the community that affect quality of life for local people, such as vandalism and graffiti. The Judge has a range of powers and can sentence offenders in a way that benefits the community, although he can also issue custodial sentences.

The Judge meets with local residents who tell which crimes are making their lives a misery and what they think needs to be done about it. There is also a teenagers advisory group, made up of young offenders and local schoolchildren, designed to help the judge get into the minds of teenagers who commit crime.

The new scheme is inspired by a project in one of New York's toughest neighbourhoods and is supported by the Government and the Liberal Democrats. A CJC is already being piloted in Liverpool and has been successful in cutting crime locally.