Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her planned timeline is for the implementation of steps to transition toward restorative justice is; and what the key milestones toward this will be.

Restorative justice can, when delivered in the right circumstances, improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.

That is why, under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (‘the Victims’ Code’), all adult victims must be told about the option of restorative justice and how to access it. We also provide Police and Crime Commissioners with grant funding for victim support services, including restorative justice services. They are best placed to assess local need and commission services based on the needs of the population in the local area.

Restorative justice can also already be used as part of out of court resolutions, depending on the circumstances of the case.