Call for local courts to tackle louts

THE ESTABLISHMENT of special community courts to deal with those involved in anti-social behaviour has been called for by a business…

THE ESTABLISHMENT of special community courts to deal with those involved in anti-social behaviour has been called for by a business lobby group.

Dublin City Business Association chairman Basil Good accused the Government of failing to tackle alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour, which he claimed was spiralling out of control.

Last May, the National Crime Council called on then minister for justice Michael McDowell to set up community courts, first introduced in the US, to deal with offenders who commit minor crimes.

The council advised on a wide range of issues on how to deal with crime.

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The courts initiative would see people found guilty of offences such as petty theft, assault and criminal damage doing community service work. Mr Good said he was disappointed the Government had failed to act on the recommendation.

"There is a need for Government to look at solutions that will have long-term impact on anti-social and lager lout behaviour with an element of restorative justice where the criminals make restitution to the communities in which they have done their crime," he said.

"When introduced in the US, the Community Courts have been proven to reduce recidivism to 16 per cent within three years.

"Currently there is no such effective system in Ireland and anti-social behaviour is spiralling out of control."

Mr Good said the number of people in Dublin city centre during the day averages about 700,000 but drops to 8,000 at night, which impacts negatively on the economic performance of the capital.

"Alcohol-related public disorder is preventing people from enjoying their capital city at the evening period. There is a failure by the State to restore the city centre evening economy to the level of what it should be in a vibrant, prosperous European capital city centre and a failure on the part of the politicians to face up to the alcohol sector on what needs to be done in this regard," he said.

Separately, Mr Good said trading in the capital last year was up 6 per cent on 2006.

He added that improved public transport was critical to ensuring success for businesses in the city and praised the Government's Metro plans.