'Street courts' to dispense justice to petty offenders

Racists, vandals and even thieves would have their sentences imposed by the new tier of courts, known as community offender panels.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, is backing the proposals from the Institute for Public Policy Research ((IPPR), to be published on Wednesday.

Work on the panels would be open to all, regardless of age or experience, and volunteers could be handing out sentences after just 20 hours' training by probation officers. They would deal with those who admit offences such as drunk and disorderly behaviour, petty theft, vandalism and using racial abuse. The local volunteers would also be charged with sorting out "neighbours from hell" cases referred by housing associations and councils.

Sentences will be limited to non-custodial options, community service and drug treatment orders. The panels will also be able to insist offenders make "reparations" to their victims, for example by cleaning graffiti.

"Street courts" are being embraced by the Government to help restore public confidence in the justice system. Ministers have struggled to shore up public faith that minor crime is being properly dealt with. Ms Blears was forced into an embarrassing climbdown when she appeared to suggest offenders on community service orders be forced to wear Guantanamo Bay-style orange overalls.

Ben Rogers, an IPPR associate director and author of the report, said: "The criminal justice system is often perceived as remote and unresponsive. Research shows local, visible institutions that engage the public are trusted more than remote and anonymous ones. Introducing community offender panels could provide an effective way of bringing the criminal justice system to the community."

David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said: "The question has to be asked, 'What has the existing criminal justice system been doing over the past eight years?' This Government has form for headline-grabbing announcements, only to fail to follow up with any delivery."