Community impact statements are to be prepared by prosecutors in Lambeth to make sure the correct action is taken against individuals whose crimes have hurt the community.

The statements - similar to victim impact statements where people describe how they have been affected by a crime - will highlight the severity of a crime’s impact on a whole community.

The intention is for the statements to be used to strengthen the cases brought to court by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but will also inform prosecutors of whether certain cases should be tried.

Martin Ryan, Lambeth’s borough prosecutor, said it would mean the CPS was focusing on delivering justice for crimes most affecting communities.

He said: “It is particularly important when deciding how certain cases should be dealt with to consider the effect on a community.

“That can tell us whether a criminal case should be brought against someone, or another form of disposal, such as a caution.”

The community impact statements could be used to decide whether dog attacks were resolved out of court, he said, or if a dog was considered a more serious risk, it was in the public interest to take the matter to court.

Mr Ryan spoke to the Streatham Guardian as part of an effort to raise the profile of work the CPS does.

He said some 10,000 criminal cases were handled by the CPS each year, but very few people knew what it did.

The 13 prosecutors working in Lambeth advise police officers on what information and evidence is needed for a successful criminal conviction, as well as if it is in the pubic interest to prosecute an individual.

Lambeth has appointed a community prosecution coordinator who will be tasked with making links with the community, advising them on how the justice system works, and working with them throughout major cases.

The coordinator should also keep community leaders informed on how cases are developing.

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