New powers for justice panel (From Chard & Ilminster News)

New powers for justice panel

5:07pm Thursday 2nd August 2007 in Chard By Joanna Glover

THE News-backed Chard and Ilminster Community Justice Panel hit another milestone last week as it handed out its first fixed penalty notice.

The panel has not previously issued fines, and this will now set a precedent for future cases.

PC Bill Gedes, Chard Police Beat Manager, was instrumental in establishing the panel and said the issuing of fixed penalty notices will be a positive step.

He said: "The person admitted to causing criminal damage, and as a result they were issued with a three month acceptable behaviour order.

"On top of that, for the first time ever the panel was able to issue a fixed penalty notice, and this now becomes sanctioned for other cases."

The project, launched in 2003 thanks to the News' Bring Justice Home campaign, mediates in cases of low-level crime or anti-social behaviour.

The panel brings offenders and their victims together to agree a punishment without actually going to court.

The project has dealt with over 100 cases so far, and last month secured funding from the Home Office to continue for another year.

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