Member Article

Community Court plans under spotlight

Plans to take justice closer to the people with the setting up of the first Community Court project in the Cleveland area will be discussed at a conference in Middlesbrough today. Representatives from the local community and criminal justice staff have been invited to the conference to discuss plans which will see the Community Court coming into operation after Easter. Middlesbrough is one of ten areas across the country chosen for the extension of the Community Justice initiatives following successful pilots in Liverpool and Salford.

Colin Wilson, from the Cleveland Criminal Justice Board, who are overseeing the project, said: “It means that local people will have a chance to work with court in tackling issues in their area. For example they will be asked to identify the types of law-breaking and anti-social behaviour that causes them greatest concern, as well as being invited to identify community projects to be undertaken by offenders under ‘Pay Back’ reparative justice projects.

Colin Monson, Director for the project, said: “Community liaison in Middlesbrough is strong everywhere, but we have been particularly impressed by the excellent work taking place in East Middlesbrough, where Neighbourhood Management and Neighbourhood Policing are firmly established. We now want to build on these foundations to become even more responsive to people’s needs.”

The Community Court will deal with offences from the East Middlesbrough wards of Beckfield, North Ormesby and Brambles Farm, Pallister, Park End and Thorntree.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .