Revised Government plans for the future of neighbourhood justice schemes in Northern Ireland fall short of what was required, a leading critic claimed today.
Nationalist SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood said the British government was still in danger of creating a two-tier system of policing under the new plans, which were put out to consultation today.
Community restorative justice schemes, which have been funded privately up to now in republican and loyalist neighbourhoods, bring the victims of low-level crime face to face with those accused of perpetrating them to agree an appropriate penalty.
Supporters of the schemes, including Sinn Fein, argue that they provide a viable alternative to paramilitary expulsions and so-called punishment attacks in areas where there is hostility to the police.
Critics have warned that loyalist and republican paramilitaries could use the schemes to exert further control over their areas.
Among the changes to the proposals confirmed by Northern Ireland Office Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson today was a requirement on all community restorative justice schemes to engage directly with the Police Service of Northern Ireland instead of the original suggestion that some schemes could go to a third party.
The minister also announced that a new panel had been established to determine if an individual was suitable to work in posts dealing with victims and offenders.
The new plans would also ensure any participant with concerns about how a scheme had handled their case could refer them to a new independent complaints service.
Mr Hanson said: "I firmly believe these strengthened measures now set a 'gold standard' for schemes to achieve and will further promote public confidence in the process."
Mr Attwood, however, said analysis suggested there had not been movement in the three areas and showed that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and his officials had not listened hard enough to the concerns people had about their proposals.
The SDLP Policing Board member said: "First, there is to be a complaints scheme run by the Probation Board.
"It will not have the necessary powers for a truly independent and rigorous complaints procedure.
"Without the ability to search premises, seize documents and compel witnesses to attend, a complaint may quickly run into the sand.
"Second, the British Government says that there is a requirement for direct communication by a restorative scheme with the police", he said.