This in from the office of Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane. Ed
Hampshire and and the Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, has welcomed the House of Commons Justice Committee Report into Restorative Justice.
The report states that high quality Restorative Justice should be available to victims at every stage of the criminal justice system.
Fully inclusive Restorative Justice service
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the Police and Crime Commissioner has commissioned a fully inclusive Restorative Justice service for victims. This means that, should they wish, any victim of crime or anti-social behaviour can access Restorative Justice services, regardless of the type of offence or when the offence was committed.
Michael Lane: said:
“I support the recommendations of the report to further open up access to Restorative Justice for victims, and to continue the dialogue between Police and Crime Commissioners and the Ministry of Justice over the expansion of these services.
“I have commissioned an inclusive service for Hampshire, because I want to ensure that all victims have access to Restorative Justice. It is important though to stress Restorative Justice is voluntary for all parties, so while it is available, it is an individuals choice as to whether they wish to take part, and to what level.
“Rightly, the committee’s report reflects concerns that have been raised about the appropriateness of Restorative Justice for certain situations. This is an important point and while our service does not exclude people by reason of the type of offence committed, each case is assessed on an individual basis before being taken forward; always putting the needs of the people involved first to make sure they are not re-victimised.”
Further information on Restorative Justice in Hampshire can be found online and House of Commons Website.
Article edit
Release updated to include the Isle of Wight (originally omitted from the release)
