Neighbourhood justice - Controversy is built right in

PLANS for officially-sanctioned neighbourhood justice schemes in the North to deal with low-level crime in local areas were bound to spark controversy.

Amid fears that republican vigilante groups will now take to the streets with impunity, unionist politicians are accusing Downing Street of keeping police involvement in such schemes at arms length simply to placate Sinn Féin.

At one level, the community scheme will bring Sinn Féin into the policing network by giving it official responsibility in its areas.