THE first magistrates' courts dedicated to dealing with domestic violence and homophobic hate cases started operating this week.

The courts will feature specialist teams of Crown Prosecution Service lawyers with cases heard by magistrates in County Durham and Darlington.

The CPS-led initiative is being backed by the County Durham and Darlington Criminal Justice Board, which has overseen the creation of the new court network aimed at encouraging more victims of such crimes to come forward.

Portia Ragnauth, Chief Crown Prosecutor in Durham, said: "It is important to raise awareness that domestic violence and hate crimes should have no part in our society.

"By creating these specialist courts we hope to encourage more victims to come forward and give evidence.

"We want the community to have increased confidence in the criminal justice system by providing this service."

Everyone involved in the cases, including ushers, clerks and court staff, have been trained in relation to domestic violence and hate crime issues.

There has been no date set for the first hearing. But since mid-November all sensitive cases in the area involving domestic violence, racist, homophobic and other hate crimes, that have already been adjourned for trial in traditional magistrates' courts, have been earmarked for hearing in the new courts over the coming weeks and months.

Planned sittings will be at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court, in the Sedgefield constituency of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

His wife, Cherie Booth QC, said: "Court procedures that make the process less intimidating for victims of domestic violence are to be welcomed."

Baroness Scotland, Home Office Minister for Criminal Justice and Law Reform, said: "The creation of special courts mean we can better support victims and witnesses and bring perpetrators of domestic violence and hate crime to justice."

The County Durham and Darlington Criminal Justice Board has joined a number of agencies including the probation service, police, Racial Equality Council and representatives of lesbian and gay groups.

Paul Garvin, Durham Constabulary Chief Constable, said: ''The local criminal justice board recognise that we need to deal with vulnerable victims and witnesses in a positive and sensitive way.

"We have pooled our resources and concentrated our efforts to create these specialist courts."