Police forces are dealing with up to 14 per cent of violent crimes against the person through “community resolutions” as police cuts bite and the number of officers falls. That is according to the Labour Party which has made Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that show some serious offences – such as domestic violence and knife crime – are dealt with by community resolutions.
Labour is calling for Government guidelines to make sure community resolutions are only used for low level crime and antisocial behaviour. Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said: “These figures are extremely serious. “There has been a massive increase in the number of serious and violent crimes dealt with just by community resolution ever since the police cuts started – breaking all the expert guidance and promises from Ministers. Offenders who admit to serious and violent crimes – including knife crime, domestic violence, and serious assault – are increasingly being let off with no criminal record, no justice, and not even a caution. That’s bad for justice, bad for victims, and goes against all the evidence.
“Theresa May and Chris Grayling both promised stronger action against serious and violent crime, especially knife crime – yet these shocking figures prove they have done the opposite. ”Theresa May’s polices are letting far more serious offenders off. The idea that perpetrators of domestic violence are being let off for things like saying sorry to the victim is very disturbing and risks perpetuating the abuse. Evidence shows that community resolutions – especially if they include restorative justice – can be very effective ways to tackle anti-social behaviour and low level crime and that’s why we support more evidence based use of community resolutions for things like anti-social behaviour.
”But the evidence and ACPO guidance are very clear that these should not be used for serious crimes, and should not be used for domestic violence at all. To do so risks giving community resolutions a bad name. Ministers have allowed this to happen. We know police forces are under pressure from the scale of cuts and demands to dispose of crimes. It is no coincidence that this big increase in community resolutions for serious crime comes at the same time as 15,000 officers are being lost.
“The police are doing less with less, and justice for serious crimes and vulnerable victims are being put at risk. The Home Secretary needs to grip this urgently – to issue strong guidance about when community resolutions should be used, to look again at the real consequences for justice and victims of police cuts, and to get serious about serious crime.”
Police forces are dealing with up to 14 per cent of violent crimes against the person through “community resolutions”, according to Labour. In 2012 Community Resolutions/RJ were used 33,673 times for violent crimes, including 10,160 offences of serious violence involving injury. In 2012 police used Community Resolutions 2,500 for offences of domestic violence Community resolutions were used nearly 1,000 times in 2012 for hate crimes, 2,000 times for harassment and stalking and hundreds of times for offences involving weapons and knives. Community Resolutions are only supposed to be used for low level crime or anti-social behaviour, not for serious crimes because there is no criminal record and no information put on the Police National Computer. Labour suggests that ACPO guidelines are not being followed. Community resolutions can have a restorative element, according to Labour; it involves offenders making it up to the victim, for example by apologising, repairing the damage or helping in the community. Labour says that it supports expanding the use of Community and Restorative Resolutions for tackling things like anti-social behaviour based on evidence and in line with national guidance that they can be more effective than traditional routes. There is also said to be a postcode lottery of justice around England and Wales. A number of police forces use Community Resolution/RJ sparingly, with resolutions being 2 or 3 per cent of recorded violent crime.
Speaking for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the lead on restorative justice and community resolutions, ACC Garry Shewan said: “Community resolutions, including restorative justice, offer clear benefits to both victim and offender, and give police flexibility to deal with a variety of offences effectively. Guidelines are in place to help forces decide where the use of community resolutions might be appropriate, but in every case, this decision will be victim led and above all reflect their views and wishes.
“While in the main they are used to deal with less serious offences, there is no simple formula. At times it may be necessary, and appropriate, to use such informal resolutions to deal with more serious cases. In such circumstances, it is far more than likely there will be a restorative justice element to the resolution.
“Many victims of crime tell us that they feel the criminal justice system and courts take over and they are left out, but meeting the offender can bring a degree of closure and help them to move on with their lives. Going through a restorative justice meeting has also been proven to have more impact on an offender than a prison sentence or a court punishment alone, as they see the consequences of their actions and so want to make changes in their future behaviour.
“In each force where restorative justice is offered to victims, specially trained officers will work hard with victims of crime to offer a resolution to their case that they are satisfied with. This will involve carefully assessing the specific circumstances, taking into account the relationship between victim and offender, and crucially, the vulnerabilities of the victim.
“We are clear that these cases should be judged upon their outcomes, not only for the victim, but the offender and wider community.”
