'Community justice' gives public a say on punishment

Under the scheme, magistrates will consult local people about the impact of crime in their area and how perpetrators should be handled.

The public will also have the right to monitor how community sentences are enforced, and to recommend the type of unpaid "payback" work offenders should carry out.

The courts in Haringey and Newham are part of a government drive to increase the justice system's responsiveness to public concerns.

They will deal with a wide range of offences including theft, criminal damage, kerb crawling, loitering for prostitution, harassment, possession of a knife, and drug- and alcohol-related crimes.

Magistrates will seek to reduce reoffending by working with services such as probation, housing and the police. They will have power to bring offenders back before them to ensure they are complying with community punishments.

The Newham court will be based at Stratford magistrates' court and will deal with cases from Canning Town and Custom House, where anti-social behaviour and crime have blighted residents' lives and a major regeneration project is planned.

The Haringey court will focus on crimes committed in Tottenham Hale, Tottenham Green, Seven Sistersand Northumberland Park. London-already has one community justice-court, launched in Wandsworth last year.

Justice minister Maria Eagle said the courts would offer residents more opportunity to influence the way crime was dealt with.

She continued: "Nobody knows more about local crime than the very people who suffer its effects and the professionals who work locally on crime prevention and related services.

"Community justice is about getting people working together to tackle the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour in their area."

A variety of methods for consulting the public will be used. Magistrates could meet citizens' panels, take representations from community leaders or consider views sent by email or letter. The sentences will be handed out by magistrates.