Press release
Press Release CJS539/04 - New Community Justice Judge sworn in
4 November 2004
Judge David Fletcher, who last month was named as the man to lead North Liverpool Community Justice Centre (CJC), is being officially sworn in as a circuit judge today (4 November).
The United Kingdom's first community justice judge starts his new role on 8 November.
Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer, who will oversee the swearing-in ceremony at the House of Lords, said:
“Today marks David Fletcher's formal appointment, and he can now get to grips with anti-social behaviour in north Liverpool. Baroness Scotland and I met David at the proposed site for the centre last month to see the plans for the England and Wales' first community justice centre for ourselves.”
“David will be accompanied in north Liverpool by teams handling probation and youth offending issues, and other advice bodies looking to see what is best for north Liverpool in relation to a particular offender.
“A community most wants to see is offending reduced or stopped, so David Fletcher will determine the sentence with that in mind. He will then monitor the sentence in relation to each individual defendant. “The CJC is based on solving the problems that the community faces in relation to volume crime and anti social behaviour.”
Judge Fletcher said:
“I am very much looking forward to starting my new role and will spend the first few weeks getting to know the community and all of the agencies who will provide support and services for the centre. I want the CJC to have a positive impact on the lives of local residents by helping to solve the problems that cause crime and I will work closely with the centre's staff to help tackle issues within the area and respond to the concerns of local people.”
Baroness Scotland, Criminal Justice Minister at the Home Office, said:
“The Government's action against anti-social behaviour is starting to show signs of success, but unless the response from the justice system is right, people will not believe we are serious about tackling this blight.
“The Liverpool centre is at the forefront of building a new approach as the vast majority of people who go through its doors will live very close to the centre; it will hear the cases of local people and solve local issues.
“I am confident that the centre will make the community more willing to
play their part in reducing crime and result in benefits not only for
victims and witnesses, but for the community as a whole.”
Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said:
“Anti-social behaviour offences may be at the low end of the criminal calendar, but the effect they have on the lives of law-abiding citizens can be devastating.
“The community justice centre in Liverpool under Judge Fletcher is an important initiative in tackling those offences, and I am pleased that the CPS are playing an integral part in this groundbreaking project. The prosecutors are committed to engaging with the community so that the CJC's work reflects the concerns and needs of the local people.”
During the short ceremony, Judge Fletcher will pledge his allegiance to the Queen and be presented with a warrant of appointment.
Since graduation from Liverpool University in 1978, Judge Fletcher has held numerous positions in the judicial system, most recently as a district judge in Sheffield.
North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, which is expected to open in 2005, will be the first of its kind in England and Wales. It aims to create a better, safer place to live for residents in north Liverpool by tackling crimes and anti-social behaviour that affect their quality of life such as vandalism, graffiti and petty theft. It will act as a focal point for the community, who will be able to access support on a walk-in basis, as well as via outreach services.
The CJC will hear cases at magistrates' court level and Judge Fletcher will have the full range of sentencing powers available to him, allowing him to handle cases that ordinarily might be passed from a magistrates' court to the Crown court. In addition to his judicial duties, he will be able to monitor the progress of each offender through any treatment programmes, community sentence or unpaid work, tackling any poor compliance and also rewarding successes.
Judge David Fletcher will also work with the CJC's probation and youth offending teams to ensure that the views of people in north Liverpool are reflected in the work carried out by offenders as part of their punishment.
A programme of community consultation and engagement is currently underway in north Liverpool, and many of the CJC's services will be operational from next month.
Residents wanting to register their views or request further information about North Liverpool Community Justice Centre can email, call 0151 515 3086 or write to North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, Freepost 22064, Liverpool L2 2QY.
Notes to Editors:
1. David Fletcher was born in 1957 and has most recently been a district judge in Sheffield since 2003, having been an acting stipendiary magistrate and deputy district judge between 1998 and 2003. He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1978, becoming a solicitor in 1981. David Fletcher's hobbies include swimming, travel, cooking and football. He is married with two children.
2. The post of community justice judge is full-time and will be remunerated at circuit judge level.
3. North Liverpool Community Justice Centre will be located on the site of a former school in Boundary Street, Vauxhall.
4. In September 2003, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the creation of North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, a joint initiative by the Home Office, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Attorney General's Office.