Neighbourhood justice 'could lead to law of the jungle'

British government plans for neighbourhood justice schemes in the North could condemn nationalist communities to rough justice and one sided political policing, it was claimed today.

As the House of Commons’ Northern Ireland Affairs Committee prepared for two days of evidence in Belfast on the Government’s revised community restorative justice proposals, nationalist SDLP deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell warned they could leave some neighbourhoods exposed to the law of the jungle.

The South Belfast MP warned: “Although the new restorative justice protocols have some improvements, they still leave communities exposed.

“The danger of state-paid vigilantes under Sinn Féin’s control remains. That really would be ’political policing’. We owe it to nationalist communities to prevent that.”

Restorative justice schemes are designed to offer an alternative for so-called paramilitary punishment attacks and expulsions.

Fifteen restorative justice schemes currently operate in republican areas and five in loyalist neighbourhoods.

They are designed to bring the perpetrators of low level crime face to face with their victims to agree an appropriate punishment.

The schemes, which Sinn Féin has been supportive of, have operated until now with private financial backing.

In July Northern Ireland Office minister David Hanson revised his plans for state funded schemes after the Government was originally accused of appeasing Sinn Féin by keeping police contact with the restorative justice groups at an arms length.

Dr McDonnell expressed concern that in the revised protocols restorative justice groups were now only required to deal directly with the police in writing.

He insisted there must be face to face discussions.

“The SDLP also remains concerned that under the government’s proposals community restorative justice groups can be funded even though the party establishing many of them, Sinn Féin, refuses to support policing and the rule of law,” he said.

“They can be funded even though many in the community are too scared to speak out. They can be funded without proper inspection arrangements, especially for non-crminal work.

“They can be funded without a proper legislative framework and even though those involved may have been convicted before the Good Friday Agreement of paramilitary-related crimes such as punishment beatings.

“David Hanson claims that the provisions on complaints have been improved. In fact, the new complaints system has no investigatory powers whatsoever – and the Criminal Justice Inspector is specifically prohibited by law from investigating complaints.

“And as long as the culture of paramilitary control continues, the government knows full well that people will be too scared to complain.”

The SDLP deputy leader said it would be unacceptable for any political party to be able to operate its state-funded policing.

Yet he claimed the Government’s proposals contained no requirement to ensure restorative justice groups were independent and impartial.

Dr McDonnell said it was also vital all restorative justice groups accepted a legitimate definition of a crime and proved they would uphold the law before they were funded.

The House of Commons’ committee will hear evidence from representatives from Community Restorative Justice Ireland tomorrow and Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde on Tuesday.