Cautious Welcome for Community Courts - Mike German AM

12.53.05pm GMT Tue 28th Nov 2006

It has been announced that Merthyr Tydfil will be the first town in Wales, and one of only ten towns in the UK, to have a new style 'community justice centre'.

The centre will try anti-social behaviour and other low-level cases, such as graffiti, vandalism and shoplifting.

Welsh Lib Dem Mike German AM said: "It is wonderful that Merthyr has been chosen as the first town in Wales to have a community justice centre. This can really help put our town on the map.

"Lib Dems have been campaigning for community justice centres since 2004. We believe that they will give local people a say in the way that local crime problems are dealt with, as well as offering offenders a way to pay back for the harm they have done to their community.

Local Lib Dem Amy Kitcher, who lives in Merthyr Tydfil, added: "The community justice centre can be a good thing for Merthyr. I've spoken to many people who think that petty criminals should make amends for their actions by doing community service. We all know areas that could use some cleaning up or graffiti that needs removing. By being made to deal with the consequences of their actions, these petty criminals are less likely to re-offend.

"The community justice centre also gives victims of crime the opportunity to confront these petty criminals and make them realise there is a real person who suffers as a result of their actions.

"However, I don't want to see these new centres undermine our Magistrates Courts. The two should complement each other to ensure that that people of Merthyr are afforded the fullest possible protection by the justice system. We don't want our town to become a governmental experiment."