About
Contents
Why Salford?
Where is it operating?
Who is involved?
How does it differ from what the court does now?
How will the community benefit?
What will be provided for victims and witnesses?
What will happen to offenders?
Why Salford?
A number of key local stakeholders including the city council, the local criminal justice agencies, and local MP (Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP), successfully pushed for a Community Justice Initiative to be developed in Salford. Salford is the first initiative to deliver community justice within an existing Magistrates' Court. Salford's progress is vital in determining how best to mainstream community justice to other courts in England and Wales.
Where is it operating?
Initially starting in November 2005, the Community Justice Initiative is based in Salford Magistrates' Court. The court originally sat one day a week dealing with Anti Social Behaviour Orders from the whole city of Salford and adult and youth defendants charged with crimes of community concern from the Eccles Neighbourhood Management area one of eight neighbourhoods in the City of Salford. The court initially operated with a panel of 22 Magistrates, a District Judge and dedicated staff from other organisations such as the Crown Prosecution Service and Probation.
By applying community justice to a smaller defined area initially, it allowed the concept to be carefully developed and its impact understood before broadening out to include other areas of Salford. It also helped the local criminal justice agencies and support services to develop closer working relationships, and enable focused engagement work to be undertaken with local people and community groups.
The Eccles Neighbourhood Management Area covers the wards of Eccles, Winton and Barton. It was chosen as the best place to kick-start community justice, following an analysis of data collected by the Salford Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), and also due to the range of community schemes in the area which will support the development of community justice. The selection of Eccles as a starting point was endorsed by Ministers.
Who is involved?
The initiative is supported by a close collaboration of key local partners, stakeholders and service providers, and a Project Board which is supported by a Steering Group is working to transform the vision for community justice into reality.
The Steering Group includes representatives from Her Majesty's Courts Service, Eccles Community Committee, Salford City Council, Victim Support & Witness Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Legal Services Commission, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Probation Service, Salford Youth Offending Service, The Chair of The City of Salford Magistrates' Bench, a District Judge, and a Circuit Judge, Magistrates and Defence Solicitors.
How does it differ from what the court does now?
Local people are at the heart of the Community Justice Initiative. No-one knows more about crime and anti-social behaviour than those who encounter it on a daily basis and so we will work in partnership with the local community to actively tackle crime problems.
Magistrates work more closely with local communities. They gather information on community concerns and issues by attending existing neighbourhood meetings and events.
By asking the community to identify the crimes and activities that cause them the greatest concern, and prioritising the work of the court and other criminal justice agencies, to tackle these concerns, local people have a stronger say in the delivery of justice locally and see the benefit of offenders 'paying back' to the community.
Magistrates also provide the community with more information about how Community Justice works in practice, as well as information about the wider role of the Magistracy and the courts.
We are asking local people to identify areas or facilities which could be cleaned up, refurbished or repaired, or where security could be improved, and where possible offenders on unpaid work orders to carry out this work.
We feedback to the local community about changes made as a result of consultation, action taken to tackle specific offences or problematic offenders, improvements made to local community by unpaid work. We do this through local press, newsletter, website and community meetings.
Community Justice is a more holistic approach to the problem of crime, it does not however diminish judicial independence and all cases appearing before the court are still considered on their individual merits.
How does the community benefit?
Local people receive more information and have a stronger say in the delivery of justice locally. They see the benefit of offenders 'paying back' to the community, and are be able to suggest work to be undertaken by offenders.
As agencies begin working closer together and developing services in response to identified needs, the community benefits from improved links into services. Local people on the fringes of offending and anti-social behaviour will, where possible, are guided towards alternative activities to divert them away from crime.
Local people are encouraged to become directly involved in the delivery of justice, for example as a Magistrate, through Victim Support, as a Youth Offender Panel member or as a mentor. Volunteers benefit from opportunities to develop skills and experience, to forge local connections and friendships and to make a positive contribution to their community.
Over time it is anticipated that the initiative will help to reduce levels of offending and anti-social behaviour, thus improving quality of life for local people and improving confidence in the Criminal Justice System.
What isprovided for victims and witnesses?
Victims and witnesses are fully supported through Victim Support & Witness Service; Witness Outreach and the Witness Care Unit. We are accessible, responsive and geared to meet individual needs rather than those of the system.
Victims and witnesses are kept fully informed about the progress of their case, and if an offender is brought to court, then the sentence imposed, wherever possible, will contain a reparative element to make amends for the damage done.
What happens to offenders?
Offenders are challenged in court and will have to confront the impact their behaviour has had on the victim(s) and the wider community. Sentences, wherever possible, contain an element of 'payback' to the local community. This may be by paying compensation to the victim, carrying out unpaid work for the benefit of the community or by listening to what victims or members of the community have to say about how crime has affected their lives.
Using existing sentencing powers, the court aims to address the underlying cause of offending, such as drink or drug dependency, lack of skills and associated unemployability, or financial problems. Punishment is combined with help, and agencies work together to deliver fast assessment of the offender and rapid access to necessary services.
Offenders' progress is closely monitored by Magistrates and they are swiftly returned to court if they fail to comply with a penalty or community order.
Statement of expectations (PDF 35.22kb)