The new Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a new £1.3m scheme, hailed as the first ever Pan-London Restorative Justice programme.
Londoners who have been affected by crime will have the chance to meet their offender if they wish. Claimed to be the UK’s single biggest restorative justice commission and will offer access at every stage of the criminal justice system. The organisers say that this approach holds offenders to account for what they have done, helping them understand the impact of their crime and make amends to their victims.
The move follows a poll conducted by Ipsos MORI during March and April 2015 which found that 46 per cent of victims would want to meet their offender, however current service access across London is inconsistent. This new London-wide will complement services, filling gaps in provision, it’s claimed, and operating alongside criminal justice procedures.
The Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) has appointed Restore: London, a non-profit consortium led with partners Restorative Solutions, Khulisa and the IARS International Institute. Restore: London has begun recruiting a steering group to oversee and evaluate. The group, mainly comprised of people who have themselves been victims of crime, will share evidence and insights with key partners including Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales.
Sadiq Khan, said: “I want to put the needs of victims at the heart of London’s criminal justice process. Crime of any kind can have a devastating, lasting effect on victims, and it’s my duty as Mayor to do what I can to make London safer and prevent as many people as possible needlessly becoming victims of crime. We need to both punish and reform offenders. At the moment, if victims’ needs are considered at all, it’s an afterthought and many offenders go on to re-offend.
“Many victims of crime want to meet the offender. Victims of crime sitting down with their offenders, alongside well-trained facilitators, can help them come to terms with their experiences and move on with their lives. But as well as helping victims, restorative justice can also help drive down re-offending, cutting the cost to the taxpayer and making our communities safer. It is not an easy way out for the offenders. They do not receive any reductions in the punishment handed down as part of their sentencing.
“I’ve seen for myself, this isn’t about offenders just saying sorry and getting a rap on the knuckles. Done properly, it has a powerful impact on both the victim and the offender. This is why I’m so keen to give victims across the capital the choice to pursue restorative justice to help them come to terms with their experiences, move on with their lives and cut reoffending.”
Once appointed, the new steering group will use the next few months to assess borough demand for the project and develop an operational model, with the programme set to roll out early next year.
Mat Ilic, Strategic Director, Justice at Catch22, said: “The Mayor’s Office has recognised that restorative justice is a powerful strategy for helping people recover from crime. We look forward to working with both victims and practitioners to map the availability and quality of restorative justice across London. This is an opportunity to build a truly ground breaking, evidence led programme which ensures that victims are able to access consistently high quality restorative justice services at every stage of the criminal justice cycle.”
