It has been a busy week for our Ambassadors, who have been making significant progress in spreading the word about Restorative Justice. Why me? has a group of Ambassadors who have all been through the Restorative Justice process after being harmed by a range of crimes. Their role involves sharing their story to raise awareness of Restorative Justice, speaking to decision-makers, inputting into our strategic planning and being consulted about upcoming work. This supports our campaigning and advocacy work, helping our audience to see the true impact of the restorative process.
Meeting the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord Timpson
On Monday, our longstanding Ambassador Janika attended a meeting with the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord Timpson in order to share the impact that Restorative Justice had on her life. Joining our friends at The Common Ground Justice Project and Remedi, the aim of the meeting was to discuss the role of ReHub and what can be done to increase access to Restorative Justice for people in prison and probation. This is part of a longstanding and ongoing Why me? campaign. Read more: Why me?’s earlier submission to Lord Timpson and our input into the recent Rehub review.
Janika suffered a violent knife attack at the hands of her former partner while she was pregnant. Stabbed eight times in broad daylight whilst sitting in her car – with her baby soundly asleep in the back seat – the knife pierced her heart. Miraculously she and her unborn baby survived. Janika’s former partner was convicted for attempted murder.
“Gradually I began to recover physically from open heart surgery and realised the wounds were deep and they weren’t just physical. They were going to have a lasting psychological impact too. I had unanswered questions of ‘why?’ running on a constant loop through my head – it was exhausting and debilita
ting.”
“I wanted him to be accountable to me – not to a judge, not to the police not to prison officers but to me. I felt my voice wasn’t being heard – the police, the courts, victim support all were making assumptions about what was best for me.”
“Eventually, I was able to go to the prison where my ex-partner was being held and meet him face to face to ask all the questions that had plagued my mind since the day he attacked me. I wanted to tell him the impact his actions had on me, my children, my family and my friends.”
“I did not want to stay a victim, I wanted to acknowledge what had happened but not be defined by it – I wanted to look to the future. Taking part in Restorative Justice was the key that unlocked the door to my future.”
This was what Janika shared with the Prisons Minister to show how important Restorative Justice is, particularly in cases of domestic violence where survivors often struggle to access justice. This is part of our campaign to strengthen the rights of victims of crime through policy changes.
Why me? on Crimewatch
On Wednesday, Why me?’s Ambassador Nick appeared on a segment of BBC’s Crimewatch (starting at 32.29), sharing the story of how he met the man who murdered his identical twin brother, Simon. This is a unique opportunity for us to reach a new audience of people with an interest in criminal justice and who may have been affected by crime themselves.
The Crimewatch film crew attended the Why me? office to film with Nick, Why me? and Campaigns Manager Keeva. It was a fascinating day, seeing behind the scenes of a TV production.
Nick and Simon were identical twins born and raised in rural Cumbria. A few weeks after Nick and Simon’s 30th birthday, Simon went on a night out with friends to celebrate. On his way home, Simon bumped into two teenagers close to a parade of shops, and asked them for directions.
“It was just an incredibly unlucky meeting with two random strangers because they were, what I would describe as career criminals at a very young age – very dangerous people to meet alone on dark late night.”
The teenagers violently beat Simon and threw him, unconscious, into a fishing pond where he drowned. Over 15 years later, Nick met one of the perpetrators face to face in a Restorative Justice meeting.
“I needed to connect with the person that had killed Simon, I needed to talk about the last few moments of my brother’s life – it was like bringing Simon alive in the last moment before he died. And I also wanted to tell him how hurt I was. It was about me just getting answers really and asking questions. It’s like those missing pieces of a jigsaw, I wanted him to help fill in the pieces of the jigsaw.”
“The whole Restorative Justice process was a hugely defining moment for me and my family – life changing in many ways.”
Nick now shares his story both as an Ambassador for Why me? and through his book, Face to Face.
We are grateful for the work of all our Ambassadors, and the real difference they make to our sector. If you, or someone you work with may be interested in sharing their story or becoming an Ambassador, please get in touch with Keeva via keeva.baxter@why-me.org.