About - How the centre works

Bringing justice into the heart of the community
Tackling crime and its causes
Linking local services
Safe 'n' Sound
Involving local people
A focus for the community
How to find us

1. Bringing justice into the heart of the community

At the Community Justice Centre, North Liverpool, we aim to tackle the causes of crime in our area, as well as dealing with the crimes themselves. We serve 80,000 people living in the local authority wards of Anfield, Everton, County and Kirkdale.

These wards are better known locally as the neighbourhoods of Anfield, Breckfield, the Eldonian Village, Everton, Kirkdale, Vauxhall and Walton.

The centre itself can be found in Boundary Street, Kirkdale, although many of our services are also offered on a local basis in other neighbourhoods.

2. Tackling crime and its causes

The Community Justice Centre combines the powers of a courtroom, run by Judge David Fletcher, with a range of community resources, available to all North Liverpool residents as well as victims, witnesses and offenders.

Our Centre deals with problems with anti-social behaviour and cases involving crimes committed in North Liverpool 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 where appropriate and necessary.

He works with a team of experts drawn from a range of agencies, such as the Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Service and Youth Offending Team, together with specialists providing advice and support on drug and alcohol issues, housing and debt. He can also offer support to offenders from volunteer mentors, able to provide practical support in carrying out their sentence and achieving their longer term goals.

Together they aim to make sure offenders repay their debt to the local community, while at the same time addressing the underlying issues that contribute to their offending.

The team may make recommendations for extra support such as a drug treatment programme, or debt counselling, either through the centre or at other locations.

The Judge takes a personal interest in offenders and meets them for regular reviews while they are carrying out their sentence, where it involves a community penalty such as an unpaid work order.

This happens because of new powers given to the centre under Section 178 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, enabling the Judge to review sentences by bringing offenders back to see him, to monitor their progress.

3. Linking local services

We have drawn together a team of experts to offer a range of community resources, aimed at benefiting everyone living and working in North Liverpool.

These include advice and support on legal matters, support for victims of crime whether their case is going through the court or not, and help with resolving housing issues.

Charities, Addaction and Lighthouse, are based at the centre to offer support to those with addiction problems, while the Probation Service is available two days each week to carry out education and training assessments for any member of the community. Representatives from the Liverpool City Council's Anti Social Behaviour Unit (LASBU), specialists in dealing with anti-social behaviour, are also based within the centre.

We have also set up a mentoring scheme, 'Side by Side', which gives local people the opportunity to build their skills as volunteer mentors. They work on a one-to-one basis with other members of the community, including offenders, to help them fulfil their potential.

4. Safe 'n' Sound

'Safe n' Sound' is a unique service for the victims of crime and operates across North Liverpool. It links the services offered by the Community Justice centre with those of other partners, such as Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards.

Safe n' Sound involves Community Support Officers visiting victims of crime, offering practical help from the centre team on issues ranging from personal and home security and fire safety to advice on legal matters and assistance with housing problems.

5. Involving local people

The views of local people are crucial to the work of the centre and have helped to shape its development so far.

The Judge and his team are committed to listening and responding to the views of residents to identify and understand the issues that affect their lives. They hold regular meetings with two reference groups representing local residents, businesses and young people to help them decide priorities for the work the centre will tackle and the services it provides. They can also make suggestions for tasks to be carried out by offenders on unpaid work.

Input from the wider community of North Liverpool is also vital. The Community Justice Centre team wants as many local people as possible to give their opinion and get involved with the centre. The team organises regular community meetings but also welcomes residents who wish to call in to the centre, write, telephone or email with their views.

Email us with your views.

6. A focus for the community

As well as being a focus for local people through our range of support services, we are committed to supporting wider activity in the community, for all ages. We are working in partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to help teenagers develop fire safety awareness at home and in the community and are linking with organisations like Age Concern to talk to elderly residents.

We also work with many local community groups to support a wide range of projects, from football tournaments and summer activity to social events for elderly residents, and awareness sessions on issues like drugs, sexual health and community safety.

We work with local schools on a range of activity, from centre visits and events to providing work experience for pupils.

The centre has a community room that can be used, by prior arrangement, by community groups from North Liverpool.

Residents can report problems in their neighbourhood to our team, in confidence and work together with us to tackle the issues that affect their lives. To talk to us either call into the centre in person, or telephone our Community Resource Team on 0151 298 3600.

We are committed to providing a range of services to make North Liverpool a better place in which to live and work.

There are lots of ways in which local people can get involved with the centre, click How To Get Involved for more information.

You can also click Future Events to find out more about future community events.

7. How to find us

Map

Directions:

Before traveling to the centre, visitors based outside Liverpool who are arriving by car should note that the city is currently undergoing one of Europe's biggest regeneration programmes, investing £3 billion in its redevelopment. Building work is affecting traffic flows around the city and latest information can be found at BigDig.

For visitors arriving in the city at Liverpool Lime Street Station, the centre is easily accessed by a short taxi journey. Taxis are signposted and can be found at the rear of the station.

By train: The Merseyrail train station, Sandhills, is a 15-minute walk away from The Community Justice Centre, North Liverpool

By bus: The centre can be reached by any Stanley Road or Scotland Road service passing the Rotunda and directly via the following routes:

Boundary Street: 30b, 102, 130, 220 (Glenvale)

For further information about bus and train timetables and local bus routes ring the Merseytravel Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

Opening times:

The centre is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The centre's dedicated community room is used by local community groups by arrangement. For further information contact the centre on 0151 298 3600.

The Community Justice Centre, North Liverpool
Boundary Street
Kirkdale
Liverpool
Merseyside L5 2QD

Telephone 0151 298 3600
Email