'Restorative Justice' system rolled out across county after successful trails

Police in Kent are to use 'restorative justice' more widely in the county following the success of projects in Maidstone and Shepway.

Restorative justice is seen as a way for police to deal with anti-social behaviour and low-level crime. Kent Police, working with Kent County Council, local authorities and mediation services, are now extending restorative justice into the Tunbridge Wells area.

Sgt Jim Watson, Kent’s Police’s restorative lead, said: “One of the targets of the authorities is reduce the number of first time entrants into the criminal justice system. We recognise that quite a large element make mistakes growing up or beyond that and they should have a chance to lean from that process rather than be unnecessarily criminalised.”

When restorative justice was used in Kent to deal with retail offences such as shoplifting, handling stolen goods and theft by employees, re-offending was reduced by around 18 per cent. In these incidences, offenders were given a caution or reprimand as well as taken to meet the shop owner or manager.

Read the rest oif this item from Kent News here