A LANCASTER county councillor is to join a new national committee to oversee major reforms in the criminal justice system.

Dr Ruth Henig, chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority, will join the likes of Home Office minister Lord Falconer and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, on the new National Criminal Justice Board.

Dr Henig, pictured, says: "I am delighted to have been asked to sit on the National Criminal Justice Board.

"The Government has ambitious plans to modernise and improve the criminal justice system. It is crucial that the voice of local communities is heard at national level if public confidence in the system is to be strengthened and I see that as a key part of my role.

"As the police authority representative on the board, I will also want to make sure all the criminal justice agencies, including the police, are improving the delivery of justice to local people."

The new board was formally launched last week and one of its main roles will be to oversee the work of 42 new local criminal justice boards being set up across the country to bring together the work of police, the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, probation and prison services.

It will monitor, in particular, Government targets of bringing more offenders to justice and improving how victims and witnesses are treated.

Dr Henig also chairs the National Association of Police Authorities.