A GROUNDBREAKING project that sits victims of crime down with offenders is set to be rolled out in Herefordshire.

Restorative Justice is a concept that has seen real success elsewhere in the world, with 80 percent of offenders saying they would be less likely to reoffend following a session, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

And West Mercia police are looking to offer it as an option for victims in Herefordshire, with extensive training set to go on across the country over the next 12 months.

There are different levels of Restorative Justice, from street-based, on-the-spot instances where a uniformed officer may get a shoplifter to account for his behaviour, up to mediated discussions between serious offenders and their victims.

“I would not put a cap on the severity of an offence,” said Peter Merry, the Head Justice and Custody officer for Warwickshire and West Mercia police, who is in charge of rolling out Restorative Justice across the region.

“But it is, and will only be, at the discretion of the victim.

“If they think it can help them then I want to see that option available to them.

“It’s not in lieu of conventional justice – but it should be in our toolbox.”

This is where the system is a double-edged sword – as well as helping reoffending rates, RJ has also proved successful in helping victims come to terms with what has happened.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, 78 per cent of victims who took part in RJ would recommend it to others.

For more serious crimes – sexual assaults for example – trained officers may lead a meeting between an offender and their support network, and a victim and their support network, in a conference.

This can work as part of the sentencing process, or at a later date.

Mr Merry: “The skill is knowing when it is appropriate – not when it is too raw for the victim, but not before they have moved on.

“There is an optimum time, but it can happen whenever it is that that victim needs it to help get closure.”

The Ministry of Justice has pledged £30m to be used for RJ nationwide by 2016, and Herefordshire could have its first conference sessions in around a year.

With the public costs of a guilty plea in court running at around £1000, the improved reoffending rates following RJ mean it could be also offer significant savings to the justice system, with a conference costing around £400, and a street stop costing around £20.

Mr Merry added that it could also be a particularly effective way of rehabilitating young offenders, before they had to opportunity to fall into a pattern of behaviour.

Another ‘tool’ available to officers will be to bring in actors to be ‘dummy’ victims or offenders in order to help either side move on from the crime in a positive way.

You can find more information on the Facebook page What Would You Do here www.facebook.com/whatwouldyoudo.rj .