When the helpers become the harmed
This is a blog by Becky Childs, Service Manager at Restorative Cleveland, part of the Safer Communities Group.
The violent disorder that occurred this summer deeply shocked and harmed many individuals and businesses, causing damage within our communities and reinforcing the need for a shared response to support healing and repair. Initial exploration as to why the disorder in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough took place has identified multiple causal factors and the targeting of different groups within each geographical area. Working to better understand the ‘how?’ and ‘why?’, we felt it was essential to engage with representatives from local community groups, perpetrators of the violent disorder, and supporting professionals. Such professionals are typically seen as individuals who care, want to make a difference through their work, and want to help others. Fred Rogers described how when he was a boy and would see scary things in the news, his mother would say to him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” At face value, this quote offers comfort and reassurance; but then, who helps the ‘helpers’ if they too are harmed? During the violent disorder, the police presence aimed to protect, safeguard, and prevent harm. Yet they too came under attack.
As the commissioned service provider for the delivery of Restorative Justice in Cleveland, and with the valued inclusion of a Police RJ Coordinator based within our team, we are mindful of the potential harm that police officers and other emergency workers may face whilst on duty. Although recognised as often challenging and risky work, being assaulted or abused should not be regarded as a normal part of policing. It is essential that officers are given the same access to victim care and Restorative Justice as any other member of the community. Seeing the person behind the uniform has the potential to foster constructive community relations within Cleveland’s diverse population, as would understanding why local people become involved in the disorder occurring in their areas. To this end, and in recognition of the value of restorative practice in breaking down barriers to communication and building shared understanding, we were keen to ensure that the offer of Restorative Justice was standardised in all cases of officer assault.
Our proposal was supported by Chief Inspector (CI) Jon Tapper, as the Restorative Justice Lead within Cleveland Police. CI Tapper noted that “having previously observed the positive work that Restorative Cleveland completed when officers had been assaulted whilst simply performing their duties, it was absolutely clear that this is something that should be considered every time.”
To integrate the consideration of Restorative Justice within local practice, it was agreed this would need to form part of the standardised offer of support made to assaulted officers. As a first step in establishing a clear referral pathway, we liaised with Chief Inspector Steve Bell, as the Force Lead for Operation Hampshire, proposing the inclusion of information about Restorative Justice on the Health & Safety section of the Police Intranet. CI Bell supported the opportunity to enhance available support provision for officers and invited us to attend a Task & Finishing Group, to explore how best to implement Restorative Justice within the Operation. On his request, wording to explain the offer and benefits of restorative approaches was provided to the site leads, who incorporated this alongside Restorative Cleveland’s service information on the site. Following the Task & Finishing Group, an automated email referral was built into the Assault Reporting Form, enabling the Police RJ Coordinator to initiate contact with officers harmed to discuss their options.
This process naturally fostered consideration of Cleveland Police’s Seven Point Plan, as a means of promoting access to Restorative Justice and strengthening the offer of Restorative Justice to both assaulted officers and their supervision. Different options for wording were considered, including whether to create an Eight Point Plan to clearly highlight the additional offer of Restorative Justice or to incorporate this within one of the existing points. Agreeing to maintain the progress already made by the Force in increasing officer familiarity with the Seven Point Plan, we advised that reference to Restorative Justice be included within point 4 of the existing plan, given its focus on support provision. Further promotion of the revised Seven Point Plan has been shared within internal daily updates and was also published during Restorative Justice Week.
Being able to work with supportive Senior Police Leaders has proven invaluable in enhancing the Force’s response to officers assaulted on duty. On this note, CI Tapper highlights, “Inclusion into the Seven Point Plan means that every officer who is harmed is given a voice to describe the impact that incident had on them and those close to them. This in turn may change offender behaviour and improve relationships in the future.” We hope these positive steps forward will empower officers to make an informed decision about their own needs and recovery following an assault, as well as fostering improved community engagement through restorative communication.
