'Kiddy court' proposal considered

Plans to introduce "kiddy courts" where children form a jury and pass sentence on their peers are being considered in the Scottish Borders.

The youth panels could have power to deal with a range of minor offences from graffiti to breach of the peace.

Scottish Borders Council has confirmed that it is looking at the scheme, which is based on an American project.

However, a spokesman said that "considerable discussions" still had to be held before plans could progress.

The plan would involve young offenders who admit their guilt to police but whose offence is not serious enough to merit appearing before a Children's Panel.

"The model used in the US works in their legal system but the Scottish system is very different and care needs to be taken to align any model with the children's hearing system"
SBC spokesman

Possible punishments could include repairing damage or cleaning up graffiti.

It could also see them writing letters of apology or apologising in person to the victim to hear the impact of the crime on them.

The plan is based on a scheme, which has run for more than a decade in New York, where youngsters from the age of 14 sit in judgment on each other.

A spokesman for Scottish Borders Council confirmed it was looking at setting up a youth panel but was still a long way from running a pilot scheme.

"The proposals are in a very early form and will be presented to elected members at some point in the future, for their decision," he said.

"In order to get a scheme such as this working, considerable discussions are required with all the agencies potentially involved and this has not happened yet.

"The model used in the US works in their legal system but the Scottish system is very different and care needs to be taken to align any model with the children's hearing system."

'Nip in the bud'

Lib Dem MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis said he could see some benefit in the plan.

"These youth panels will give an opportunity to nip offending behaviour in the bud," he said.

"It won't be appropriate for everyone but there will be a significant number who will listen to their peers rather than some person in a suit.

"The disapproval of their peers confronts offenders in a way that a lecture from a much older person doesn't."

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