Officials asked to examine community courts proposals

THE Department of Justice and the courts service are to look into the establishment of community courts to deal with anti-social crime like vandalism, disorderly conduct and petty theft.

Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday said he had asked his officials in conjunction with the Courts Service to examine the implementation of a new report from the National Crime Council (NCC), which suggests the formation of community courts to deal with some forms of less serious crime.

The new courts, as envisaged in the NCC report, would feature: