The new drugs court started hearing cases, marking an end to drug users being treated as criminals, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said yesterday.
Justice Minister Owen BonniciAddressing a public consultation on the justice reform, Dr Bonnici said the drugs court was an example of how the government was working towards reviewing the legal system.
The drugs court, headed by social worker Victoria Scicluna, hears cases of first-time offenders found in simple possession and recommends ways to help get them off drugs. It can also impose fines.
Repeat offenders are referred to another body headed by former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello.
During the public consultation session, Dr Bonnici gave an overview of the work being done to implement the justice reform.
The rate of pending cases, he said, had dropped by 11 per cent since 2013, the largest decrease in several years. “This is a turnaround and the situation is improving,” Dr Bonnici said, quipping that, “as a Southampton FC fan”, he would not get ahead of himself and knew there was still a long way to go.
The court hears cases of first-time offenders found in simple possession and recommends ways to help get them off drugs
The session was organised ahead of the closing of the forensic year today.
Dr Bonnici said he would hold another consultation session on the eve of next month’s Budget.
Approximately 36 outdated laws and several other pieces of subsidiary legislation have been removed.
New regulations for the promised Asset Management Bureau, which will seize money accrued from criminal activity, have been drafted.
A reform of the Civil Code was next on the cards, and Dr Bonnici said this would be tabled in Parliament when the House reconvened in the coming weeks.