Local justice teams should be proud

People in South Lanarkshire who are working to help those in the community justice system should be proud of what is being achieved in this area.

That was the message from Keith Gardiner, Community Justice Scotland’s head of analysis and improvement, as representatives of more than 20 organisations gathered in Hamilton for the first annual South Lanarkshire Community Justice Conference.

Speaking at the event, he referred to the challenges facing community justice in general as well as the people helping and being helped.

Mr Gardiner said:“of course, there are things that need to be improved, but now is the time to believe because if you don’t believe, then you don’t have the fire, the drive and the passion that you need to work in this field, and if that is the case then you should leave right now.

“However, it has to be said that I feel confident saying that because I have never met anyone working in community justice who does not want to be there, who does not have that drive and passion for doing what is needed to help whoever they can.

“The new system for community justice is still in its early days and there are still questions to be answered and approaches to be determined, but here in South Lanarkshire I can tell you that you have a very good base to work from.”

Organised by South Lanarkshire Community Justice Partnership, the event was introduced by the partnership’s chair, Liam Purdie.

He said:“this conference brought together speakers and delegates from such a varied range of organisations and backgrounds, but all working with community justice, that it really was a situation where everyone could contribute and everyone could learn.

“Community justice can only work, and can only really help the people who matter, if all the relevant organisations in this area combine their strengths in the one common cause.

“If there’s one thing that this conference proved, it’s that the level of commitment, desire and willingness to do that exists here in abundance, and that can only bode well for South Lanarkshire.”