Community impact statements have been introduced in Northern Ireland as a means for communities to voice their reaction to specific crimes within local areas.

Minister of Justice David Ford has introduced the scheme for crimes which have a substantial impact on community confidence.

The new statements will be provided to the court after a person has been convicted of the crime and before the judge passes sentence.

A Community Impact Statement allows a community to say how a crime has affected it and can be used when a case goes to court and a person pleads or is found guilty.

The Minister said: "Victims of crime can already make a statement about how a crime has impacted on them. Community impact statements will allow those who have been indirectly affected by a crime to say to the court, in their own words, how certain crimes have affected them.

"We will also be bringing forward improvements to the current arrangements for victims, including giving them a legal entitlement to make a statement about the harm a crime has caused them."

The Department of Justice defines a 'community' as "a group of people within a locality who have been adversely affected by an incident, and are indirect victims of a particular crime."

A Community Impact Statement would be completed by a community representative; preferably a member of an established organisation or body.

The statement would be used to articulate the harm caused and the impact on the community as an indirect victim.

This could include social, financial, physical environment, economic or other specific impacts or concerns.

The completed statement would then be sent to the police and, if the person is found or pleads guilty, the statement will then be seen by the defendant, their legal representative(s), the prosecutor and the judge.

(IT)