Public Disorder: Restorative Justice

Baroness Massey of Darwen Excerpts

Wednesday 26th October 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Baroness Massey of Darwen]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are considering the use of restorative justice in dealing with the riots in August.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, we are committed to delivering more restorative justice. We want to ensure that victims of the riots have a chance to explain the impact on them and that offenders face up to the consequences.

[Baroness Massey of Darwen]

I thank the Minister for that response. Would he agree that restorative justice schemes have resulted in victim satisfaction and cost-benefit analysis, and that reoffending has been reduced by such schemes? Would he say how many such schemes there are and whether they will be rolled out more extensively?

[Lord McNally]

Initially there were three such schemes. There have been about 60 enquiries about restorative justice, and we are very keen to roll out the schemes as quickly as possible. In response to the recent riots, there have been elements of restorative justice in both London and Manchester. I assure the noble Baroness that it is an element of the criminal justice system that we are very eager to learn lessons from and to expand.