The power of Restorative Justice to tackle anti-social behaviour
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter.
This year, the Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 25% of people perceived anti-social behaviour to be a fairly or very big problem in their area. There was also an increase in the number of people who were victims of, or witnesses to, anti-social behaviour. These statistics show that anti-social behaviour is an increasing concern, and something needs to be done to address it.
The Home Office is currently seeking evidence on ways to reduce the harm caused by anti-social behaviour. As part of this, we submitted a case for the use of Restorative Justice.
We know that anti-social behaviour (ASB) can have a huge and lasting impact both individuals who have been targeted and the wider community. But many people who commit ASB don’t see the true impact it is having on the people around them. By taking part in a restorative process, they can understand the impact of their actions, have the opportunity to make amends and be supported to change their behaviour.
Often, those impacted by ASB will continue to come face-to-face with the people who have harmed them, over and over again, as they live in the same area. It is therefore crucial that they get their voice heard and that relationships are restored so that the community can continue to interact without further conflict.
The use of punitive interventions to tackle ASB often fails to address the root causes of the issue, leading to reoffending. So, if we want to give victims a voice, help perpetrators move forward and prevent future reoffending, we should turn to Restorative Justice. On top of the benefits for the individuals involved, Restorative Justice is also extremely cost-effective, saving £14 for every £1 invested.
Under the Victims’ Code of Practice, all victims of crime have the right to information about Restorative Justice. But, in reality, this doesn’t happen – less than 6% of victims with a known offender recall being told about the option. Why me? believes that everyone affected by crime or conflict, including ASB, should be told about Restorative Justice and supported to access it. At the moment, Restorative Justice is a hugely underused resource. In a recent survey we conducted with Restorative Justice service providers, 80% of respondents stated that they had capacity to take on more cases.
What does RJ for ASB look like?
Restorative Justice is shaped around the needs of the people involved, meaning it can look different every time. It is important to be creative and flexible in the type of intervention that is offered. For some, a face-to-face dialogue between the person who committed ASB and the person most affected would be suitable. In other instances, a letter could help, or the returning or rebuilding of something they damaged. Visits to local community groups or an exercise to educate someone on the impact of their actions could also help everyone involved to move forwards.
Why does it work?
Throughout the retail crime project we conducted, people who had committed low-level offences or ASB shared with us that they didn’t think their actions would impact anyone or harm the businesses or people involved. We know that this isn’t the case, and that ASB can have long-lasting effects. Helping someone to understand the impact of their actions can stop them from acting similarly in the future. Also, hearing directly from the people involved, rather than from an authority figure like the police, can help the true impact to be appreciated.
For example, James spent many years involved in crime including retail theft and drug possession, but meeting with retailers he had previously stolen from helped him to turn his life around. “Sit down with this person, meet them, ask them about their background, and tell them how it’s made you feel. As long as it’s done in a safe environment, what have you got to lose?”
Using Restorative Justice for ASB
- Restorative Justice should be embedded throughout both the victims and perpetrators’ journey when dealing with ASB.
- There should be greater use of Out of Court Resolutions to address ASB, and Restorative Justice should always be offered as an option for people with an OOCR to take part in.
- The needs of everyone involved should be considered, particularly those harmed.
- There is a need for greater partnership working between police, youth justice services and the local Restorative Justice service, including an effective system for information sharing.
- Police should be given training on Restorative Justice and specifically how to ‘make the offer’ to people they encounter.
- Steps should be taken to raise awareness of Restorative Justice in an accessible format. The main barrier to accessing RJ is that people don’t know it exists – this can change through a simple communications campaign aimed at people affected by crime and conflict.
- Consider how Restorative Justice is offered. Most people will be unfamiliar with the phrase ‘Restorative Justice’ so it should be described and offered in a way that the listener will understand. It should not be a one-time offer; if someone isn’t ready in the aftermath of a crime, it should be revisited at a later date.
Case study 1
A service in our network shared an example of how they used a community circle to bring people together to address anti-social behaviour committed by young people.
Following a rise in anti-social behaviour within the community, the youth justice service met with shopkeepers, young people, local councillors, police, leisure services, street pastors, school staff and pupils, drug support services and others to collate information and opinions on the anti-social behaviour within the community. This culminated in a restorative meeting.
The meeting was very well-attended, with all parties playing an active role throughout. The impact of anti-social behaviour upon the community was discussed at length, and the young people seemed to have a greater understanding of how their actions affected so many people. A statement was read out from a local shop, there appeared to be an acknowledgement of how much harm has been caused to the local businesses and apologies were offered. The young people were listened to regarding their views of why boredom often leads to drug taking, drinking and ultimately anti-social behaviour. They were asked what they feel might help to resolve this.
The leisure centre was offered as a safe space to go, a peer mentoring group was established and a parent made a photo diary of projects the young people become involved with after the meeting. The local police sergeant gave an open invitation to all young people to call on him for whatever reasons, at any time – confidentially. Street pastors also reiterated that they are out and about on Friday nights to offer help and advice to young people.
By the end of the process, the young people involved offered to act as mentors for other local children. Retailers said there have been no more issues since the meeting, and when they did see the children, they were polite and respectful. There were no reports of any alarm, harassment or distress being caused to any named individuals and within 6 months, youth-related ASB calls dropped by over 35%.
Case study 2
A young, male football fan threw a coin into a crowd of rival supporters at an away game. He was issued with a Community Resolution but ‘the harmed person’ was not identified. The Restorative Justice worker assigned to the case identified that reputational harm had also been caused to the boy’s own club. They agreed, but instead of issuing the boy with a ban from attending further away games, they invited him and his mother to a meeting with club staff. They explained to him how his actions reflected badly on the club and put at risk the club’s finances and their jobs. In response, the boy apologised for his actions and willingly signed a behaviour agreement. This was followed by a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the club ground.
Case study 3
Sherrall was on her way home when she was verbally attacked by a young person who refused to let her wheelchair pass. He shouted violent abuse at her and left her scared she would be followed to her house. Worried that the police would not take her seriously, the incident was never reported. A few years later she contacted Why me? and took part in a restorative conversation. The young person was never involved in the process – it was simply a conversation between Sherrall and a Restorative Justice expert who helped her understand that it was a disability hate crime and gave her a safe space to talk about what happened, allowing her to move forwards.
