Residents given sentencing input

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Community groups will be able to tell courts about the impact of crime before sentencing under a pilot scheme.

Residents will also be able to request the work they want offenders who are given non-custodial terms to carry out.

Ministers hope the moves will boost confidence in the criminal justice system which has suffered rows over prison overcrowding and sex offenders.

Under current rules courts can hear from only individual victims to weigh up the impact a crime has caused.

Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said: "We will be trying out how community groups like the parish council or tenants' and residents' associations will be able to tell the court about how crimes affect the local community."

We want the public to have confidence in the greater use of non-custodial sentences Harriet HarmanConstitutional Affairs Minister

The so-called community payback scheme which highlights work carried out by offenders and lets local people decide what projects are involved will be extended.

Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, south London, will ask local groups to put forward suggestions for community sentences.

To make local people more aware of the work that is done it will be displayed on a plaque.

Unpaid work

Ms Harman said: "We want the public to have confidence in the greater use of non-custodial sentences.

"That means that when the court orders a fine it must be paid, when it orders compensation to the victim that must be paid and when it orders an offender to do work they must do it and the community must be able to see that the work has been carried out."

She added that unpaid work by offenders should be guided by the wishes of the local community.

Last week, Home Secretary John Reid, along with the lord chancellor and the attorney general, told judges and magistrates in England and Wales to consider effect of prison overcrowding when handing out sentences.

The home secretary was accused of calling for softer sentences, but Mr Reid said he was simply restating existing policy.

Offenders carried out an estimated £34m worth of unpaid work - about 6.5 million hours - last year.