*/
A legislative right to restorative justice should replace the current ‘postcode lottery’, the Justice Committee said, in its Restorative justice report.
Under the Victim’s Code, victims have a right to be informed about restorative justice schemes. But the committee found there was ‘mixed compliance’ with it and said the schemes were subject to a ‘postcode lottery’.
It cited a poll that found public awareness of restorative justice was low, at 28%, but that 80% of people questioned thought victims should have the right to meet their offenders.
The committee said the Government should ‘work towards’ establishing a law that gives all victims the right to restorative justice, but said it should only be enacted once ministers have demonstrated that the system has the capacity to deliver.
Committee chairman Bob Neill MP said: ‘The priority must be to ensure that victims of crime are properly informed. The Ministry of Justice should focus its resources on ensuring restorativejustice is well understood by bodies within the criminal justice system who can then convey this information to victims.
‘A rigorous system should be introduced to improve compliance with the police’s requirement to inform victims – perhaps something as straightforward as a box at the end of the victim impact statement form,’ he said.
The Ministry of Justice said it would consider the report.
A legislative right to restorative justice should replace the current ‘postcode lottery’, the Justice Committee said, in its Restorative justice report.
Under the Victim’s Code, victims have a right to be informed about restorative justice schemes. But the committee found there was ‘mixed compliance’ with it and said the schemes were subject to a ‘postcode lottery’.
It cited a poll that found public awareness of restorative justice was low, at 28%, but that 80% of people questioned thought victims should have the right to meet their offenders.
The committee said the Government should ‘work towards’ establishing a law that gives all victims the right to restorative justice, but said it should only be enacted once ministers have demonstrated that the system has the capacity to deliver.
Committee chairman Bob Neill MP said: ‘The priority must be to ensure that victims of crime are properly informed. The Ministry of Justice should focus its resources on ensuring restorativejustice is well understood by bodies within the criminal justice system who can then convey this information to victims.
‘A rigorous system should be introduced to improve compliance with the police’s requirement to inform victims – perhaps something as straightforward as a box at the end of the victim impact statement form,’ he said.
The Ministry of Justice said it would consider the report.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
