COMMUNITY COURTS

Three community courts will open this month in a bid to give local communities a greater say in how offenders in their area are dealt with. Court staff and magistrates in the community justice courts in Methyr Tydfill and the London boroughs of Newham and Haringey will work with local residents and community groups to identify issues of concern, tackle the root causes of crime and anti-social behaviour, and help reduce re-offending. Recent surveys of the community courts in Liverpool and Salford revealed that 79% of offenders felt the problem-solving meetings at these courts had helped them to address their problems.