Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Damian Green

Tuesday 2nd July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

2. What assessment he has made of the use of restorative justice on the secure children’s estate.

[The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Damian Green)]

The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office have commissioned an evaluation of a number of restorative justice pilot schemes, some of which have involved young people, but there has been no specific evaluation of the use of restorative justice on the youth secure estate.

[Stephen Gilbert]

We know that reducing the unnecessary criminalisation of children should be a key priority, and clearly children within the secure estate are particularly vulnerable. We also know that restorative justice approaches deliver better outcomes for all involved. Will the Minister commit to introducing a specific study on the use of restorative justice in the secure children’s estate?

[Damian Green]

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman’s underlying point. Restorative justice has proved to be an extremely successful method; evaluation has found that 85% of victims who have participated in it said that they were satisfied with the experience. We will certainly keep a close eye on how it can be used most effectively for young people.