New plans for community justice and a high-tech police force have been unveiled at the Liberal Democrat conference.

Home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the wanted offenders to see the "anger and hurt they cause" to local communities.

The Lib Dems are proposing to establish new "community justice panels" to deal with low-level anti-social behaviour cases.

Under the scheme suspects would be referred to a tribunal of local community leaders, who would consider how the offender should "make amends".

Proposed punishments could include community work and attending addiction therapy courses.

If the offender accepts the package, they will be able to avoid referral to court for punishment.

The party denied the scheme would herald a return to local lynch mobs, saying the offender could reject the process and appear before a court instead.

But the aim is to have a dramatic impact on offenders by making them face up to the consequences of their behaviour.

"Sitting before a community panel is a far more daunting experience than going to court - it gets to the root of the crime and forces the offender to confront the consequences of his behaviour in a way that a court appearance cannot," argued a party policy document.

Oaten added that the experience would be "very uncomfortable" for offenders.

"But this is not just about punishment - it offers the offender something that a court appearance cannot - a chance to earn back the respect of the community and demonstrate that he can act responsibility," he said.

Police reform

In addition to planning an overhaul of local justice systems, the Lib Dem conference has also considered moves to reform the police.

Oaten said that British forces were lagging behind in the use of new technology, with the AA and RAC sending out their patrols with more advanced equipment.

"While the rest of us are in the age of the internet, the police are stuck in the age of the paperclip," he warned.

Criticising the Home Office for failing to develop a national intelligence system, Oaten said forces were often unable to access intelligence material held on their databases.

Pledging a "massive investment in technology", the party says the move will help to put more officers on the streets.

Amid continued pubic concern over issues such as anti-social behaviour and rising violent crime, the party is pledging to put a total of 10,000 more police officers on the beat.

And there are also plans to reform the way in which forces in England and Wales operate.

Proposals call for a UK border force "to strengthen borders against terrorism, drug smuggling and organised immigration crime".

There will also be a new tier of policing for England and Wales dedicated to national and international crime, with a focus on white collar offences.