City Council's Plan For Face-To-Face Justice To Beat Crime

Offenders are to be encouraged to face their victims as part of a new initiative proposed by the Liberal Democrat-led Cambridge City Council.

The idea, which has already led to big reductions in re-offending in other parts of the country, is designed to broaden street restorative justice launched by the city’s police.

It is hoped that by bringing together victim and offender along with the police or another organisation which had referred the crime, all parties could work together for a successful outcome.

Neighbourhood Resolution Panels would be created, similar to those introduced in Sheffield, Norfolk and Somerset where they have led to reductions in re-offending in low level crime or anti-social behaviour which is not serious enough to prosecute.

It is hoped £34,000 can be made available in the council’s budget to fund a project leader over two years to set up the Neighbourhood Resolution Panels.

The scheme is designed to complement street restorative justice pioneered by the police where on the spot reparation, such as an apology or a clean-up, takes the place of formal cautions or warnings for minor offences if both victim and offender agree.

Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Tim Bick said: "Experience elsewhere suggests that victims value the opportunity to ask questions about the offence, to talk about its effect on them and others, and to work with the offender to help stop them offending again.

"The experience of confronting the personal impact of their deeds has clearly had a positive effect on offenders, as resulting re-offending rates, particularly for young people, have been much lower than they are nationally.

"These panels have the potential to complement street restorative justice already started by the police. They provide slightly more structured events for situations where more reflection and discussion is appropriate. And they have the enormous benefit of being firmly grounded in the community itself.

"This approach to crime will not suit every case but the evidence is that it has an important role to play. It ought to fit well in a city where we are concerned to prevent people embarking on a life of crime before they get started."

The initiative on Restorative Justice features as a priority in Cllr Bick's plans for community development and community safety over the coming year.

"The city council will be working closely with our partners, particularly the police, in order to design the scheme in a way which commands the confidence of the community,” added Cllr Bick.