£1m project will force criminals to say sorry to Midlands victims
Almost £1 million is to be handed to police forces in the region to get more criminals to apologise to their victims before they are sentenced.
Funding is being provided to West Mercia Police, West Midlands Police and Staffordshire Police under a £29 million national project over three years, revealed today.
The cash, which has come from offenders through fixed penalty notices and victim surcharges, will be used to help finance "restorative justice".
The process brings offenders and victims together, either face to face or through mediators.
But the Government has stressed it is not a "soft" option letting criminals get off lightly.
West Mercia Police will be given £83,704 in 2013/14 to use for restorative justice and £135,000 the following year.
In the West Midlands, police and crime commissioner Bob Jones will be provided with almost £500,000 to use for restorative justice over the next two years – £188,030 in 2013-14 and £305,000 in 2014-15.
Staffordshire Police will have a budget of £75,000 for 2013/14 and £121,000 the following year.
Restorative justice sets up face to face meetings between victims and perpetrators involving professionals. Sometimes they are done over the phone or via video link and sometimes conclude with plans for the criminal to make amends in some way.
In other cases, if the victims do not want to meet the offender, recorded or written messages can be passed back and forth.
Justice minister Damian Green said: "Many victims of crime get to see sentences handed down in the courts, but it's not always enough to help them move on with their lives.
"Restorative justice gives victims the opportunity to look offenders in the eye and explain to them the real impact the crime has had on their life.
"The process also provides a chance for offenders to face the consequences of their actions. Restorative justice is not a soft option and will not lead to offenders escaping punishment. Crimes of a serious nature will continue to be progressed through the courts.
"Research shows that restorative justice is associated with high levels of victim satisfaction and can also help reduce re-offending by offenders."
Last year just £1 million was spent by the Ministry of Justice on restorative justice.
