American-style community justice centres in which the public has a say in penalties imposed for crime and anti-social behaviour are to be set up in England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor announced yesterday.

Ten pioneering courts will be established — in Bradford, Devon and Cornwall, Hull, Leicestershire, Merthyr Tydfil, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, and Nottingham and in two areas of London.

The Lord Chancellor told a conference in central London that he hoped they would become the first in a network of such courts set up in Britain within two years.

“I believe that community justice is an essential part of the future of the criminal justice system,” Lord Falconer of Thoroton said.

“Community justice is a vital way of doing justice differently, connecting courts and communities so that courts know what communities want and communities get from the courts the justice they need.”

The centres are being set up after successful pilot schemes in Liverpool and Salford. Key features include a hands-on approach by judges who see the same offenders regularly to check on compliance with punishments or orders.

Lord Falconer said: “We want the community to view the courts as relevant and effective to the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

“Community courts are an attempt to right these wrongs, to help re-balance the criminal justice system and to help make sure the criminal justice system has, as its priority, the law-abiding citizen. The perception of the courts will change from [that of] impenetrable institutions to an accessible part of the community.”

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