Welcome to the Cheshire PCC home website
The Commissioner is responsible for commissioning restorative justice (RJ) services from the grant he receives from the Ministry of Justice for Victims’ Services.
In Cheshire, the Restorative Justice Service is provided by Remedi. Remedi works across Cheshire with a clear focus on positive outcomes for victims, as well as working with communities, families and individuals to support them where there has been a crime or ASB.
The service is responsible for coordinating restorative practices across partners and providing a central Restorative Hub to provide advice and support to victims of crime and partner agencies such as Cheshire Police, other victim services, Youth Justice Services, Probation, Prisons, Local Authorities and schools.
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a process which “brings those harmed by crime or conflict, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward”.
The process is completely voluntary for both parties. It can empower victims by letting them have their say and helping them to move on with their lives and it can help offenders to recognise the impact of what they have done and make amends.
It is about helping people to communicate following a crime. It provides victims with a chance to explain the impact of the offence and ask questions and it helps offenders to explain their actions and offer an apology.
Involvement in Restorative Justice is voluntary, confidential and free.
Victim led RJ
The core principles of the service for the Restorative Hub is a victim centred service, which is the model preferred by the Government and the Victim's Code.
The highly trained and experienced Remedi Team under the Restorative Hub brings together victims and offenders to help resolve the many issues that can be left outstanding after a crime. Ultimately Restorative Justice aims to reduce re-offending and reduce the long term damage caused by crime and bringing victims into the process helps that happen.
Partnership working
In Cheshire there are many staff working in partner agencies within the criminal justice system who are trained to deliver RJ. The Restorative Hub works with these partners to ensure that RJ is facilitated by the most appropriate practitioner, dependent upon the victim and offender circumstances, while maintaining the focus on the outcomes for the victim. A hub model helps build capacity in the sector and increase resilience in partner organisations to ensure that the service in Cheshire is as robust as possible.
The Restorative Hub has a core commitment to effective partnership working with third sector partners and statutory agencies and working with stakeholders means that victims and offenders alike can expect a coordinated and equal service across the county.
What happens if an offender requests RJ?
The Restorative Hub acts as a firewall between agencies supporting offenders to take responsibility for their actions and their victims. The Restorative Hub carries out all contact with victims where an offender has requested RJ and liaises with other partner agencies working with both the victim and offender of the crime. The Restorative Hub will work alongside the partner organisation to ensure any outcomes are victim focused and a safe process is facilitated.
Suitability for Restorative Justice
The Restorative Hub can accept referrals from all partner agencies within the CJS, as well as the Police, and self-referrals from victims and offenders. Referrals from partner agencies must have the consent from the victim. The offence must have taken place within Cheshire and there be a clear victim and offender involved. We can accept all crime types from low level offences to the most serious offences such as Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual offences. We cannot accept any referral for DA or SV that is offender initiated.
Accessing Restorative Justice in Cheshire
If you have been a victim of crime in Cheshire and are interested in speaking to someone about RJ or you are a partner agency wishing to make a referral, you can call 0800 640 6466 or securely email [email protected]
The difference that Restorative Justice makes
These real-life stories show the impact that RJ has had for victims
Restorative Justice - Case Study, Assault on a child in the Chester area
Restorative Justice - Case Study, Mediation following a neighbour dispute in Warrington
Restorative Justice - Helen's Story
