The news that Bradford has been named as one of sixty pioneer areas that will work to ensure the criminal justice system becomes more in touch with local communities, has been applauded by Bradford Council.
Sixty criminal justice pilot areas have been given funding to appoint a local Neighbourhood Crime & Community Justice Co-ordinator until March 2010 to strengthen partnership working between the local authorities, the police and the criminal justice system.
Louise Casey is the Home Office national Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator and the Government has decided to establish a network of local co-ordinators throughout the country.
Coun Martin Smith, Executive Member for Safer Communities, explained that Bradford is "ahead of the game" in terms of already having taken part in a community justice court pilot scheme for a year and this new funding announced today will enable that kind of partnership working to be strengthened.
The court pilot scheme has been developing links between courts and individual magistrates and local communities. Magistrates have been attending neighbourhood forums in two areas of Bradford for about a year so they can learn more about local neighbourhoods and see what the impact of crime has on those areas.
Cllr Smith said: "They have learnt from local people attending Bradford Council’s neighbourhood forums what their major concerns are. They have developed a relationship with local residents and organisations so if a community service is ordered as a sentence in court, it can be better tailored to meet the needs of the community.
"This pilot scheme being launched today will build on Bradford’s good practice, ensuring better communication at a local level between the criminal justice system and neighbourhoods."
Cllr Smith added that there had been a 28% crime reduction in the Bradford district over the past five years but that more can still be done to tackle crime and especially the fear of crime.
"We are delighted that the Government has recognised the good practice we have in Bradford in engaging with local communities. By being named as one of the sixty pioneer areas, we can take our work forward in working with communities to address local people’s concerns."
The co-ordinators appointed in the pioneer areas will ensure the public can see the tough consequences for those that break the law. Their role is to make sure that action by the Criminal Justice system is visible and tough, for example making sure the affected communities get to know what the consequences are for the criminals and that community sentences are carried out locally. The Co-ordinator will also try to ensure victims of crime are supported.
