This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Restorative justice approach goes national
22/06/2004
New national police guidelines are being issued this
week on the use of restorative warnings for young
offenders. Restorative warnings can be used by the police
to deal quickly with relatively minor offences, often
committed by first time offenders ensuring that the young
person makes amends for his or her deeds.
For example, a young offender could attend their local
police station, along with their parents, to be told about
the impact the offence has had on their victim and their
community, help to repair the garden fence they vandalised
and apologise to the victim.
Ms Jamieson said:
"Youth crime and disorder can ruin the quality of life
in some of our communities. That is why this Executive
makes no apology for putting the fight against youth crime
and antisocial behaviour at the top of our agenda.
"But we also recognise that there is no single solution
to dealing effectively with youth crime. The best way to
deal with young offenders responsible for repeated serious
crimes may well be different from the best way to deal
with, say, the young person caught scribbling grafitti on a
building.
"When a young person drifts into petty crime, it is
vital that they are dealt with quickly and effectively - to
stop a 'life of crime' in its tracks. Restorative justice
warnings - where the offender is made to face up to the
consequences of their actions and where victims have an
input - have been shown to be more effective than
traditional police warnings in reducing re-offending as
well as helping the victim see that their experiences have
been taken seriously.
"All police forces already operate a system of
warnings. Some police forces already link a restorative
element to their warnings and a number of different systems
have developed across Scotland. But I am keen that local
best practice becomes national best practice. That is why I
am pleased to welcome these guidelines for the use of
restorative justice warnings.
"While such an approach can help steer first-time petty
offenders away from the formal Children's Hearings system,
I can reassure the public that this is not a soft option.
It is another tool for the police to use. Restorative
warnings will only be used when the police decide that a
restorative warning is appropriate, on the basis of their
knowledge of the young person and the type of offence.
"Working with the police and other agencies, we can
deliver a youth justice system that reduces re-offending,
that treats the experiences of victims seriously, and that
contributes to a safer, stronger Scotland."
Assistant Chief Constable Norma Graham of Central Police
said:
" We have worked closely with the Scottish Executive to
develop these Guidelines and we welcome their
introduction.
"Police Restorative Warnings will broaden the range of
options for dealing with young people. They are an
effective approach which bring home to young offenders the
reality and impact of their actions thereby help reduce
future offending behaviour."
The Partnership Agreement contained a commitment to
"consult on a national system of warnings for young
offenders with a restorative element where appropriate".
Today's publication, Police Restorative Warnings in
Scotland, Guidelines for the Police, is the result of that
consultation.
Scottish police forces have received over £400,000
funding over the last financial year and this to fund
training and support in preparation for the roll out of the
guidelines. Further funding will be made available to
support implementation.
The Police Restorative Warning
1 A police restorative warning is:
"A process, facilitated by trained personnel that
involves the warning of an offender whilst addressing the
impact on the victim and the community. The victim will
have the opportunity to be informed of the outcome."
2 A restorative warning:
* is an early intervention to reduce the likelihood
of re-offending amongst youth offenders, frequently first
and sometimes subsequent youth offenders;
* can (and should) be done quickly;
* must be carried out by officers trained in restorative
warning methods;
* impresses upon the young person the impact of the
offence on the victim or the community and on his/her
parents or relevant person, encouraging him/her to take
responsibility for his/her actions;
* is focused on changing the behaviour and attitude of
the young person rather than on humiliating him/her;
and
* takes account of victim issues in that the victim is
made aware that the warning is taking place, has the
opportunity to make known the impact of the offence, and if
he/she wants, is informed of the outcome from the
warning.