Alison Hernandez has been the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for over a decade. Mark Ansell is the High Sheriff of Devon and has chosen to focus on Restorative Justice for his year in office. In this interview, we discuss the unique nature of their jurisdiction, their challenges and successes in policing and how their pioneering model of Restorative Justice fits into this landscape.
About Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Alison: We’ve got 4,000 square miles of police area, making it the largest police force area in England. We also see the highest number of domestic tourists in the country, which means crime rises by around 10% during the summer months. One challenge is supporting victims who live outside the area. They can become disconnected from the process and often fall out of the system.
We also have the largest road network in the country, with 13,500 miles of road, much of its non-motorway and therefore policed by local officers. We’ve worked hard to reduce road traffic collisions and serious injuries, and we’ve seen positive results over the last three years.
Our communities are resilient and often favour a traditional view of justice. That can make conversations about Restorative Justice more challenging because some people assume justice should only be about punishment. However, restorative approaches can sit alongside traditional justice. As someone who has been a victim both personally and politically, I know that sometimes people need help processing what has happened to them. Counselling is not always the answer. Often, it’s about having the right conversation at the right time.
How does Restorative Justice fit in?
Alison: One of the biggest issues is that victims can feel disempowered once they report a crime. Decisions are often taken out of their hands. Restorative Justice gives some of that control back and can play a significant role in helping victims recover.
Mark: The criminal justice system is largely focused on punishing offenders rather than meeting victims’ needs. When offenders plead guilty, many victims are left with unanswered questions.
The key is understanding what each victim wants. Some want the opportunity to show the offender they have moved on. Others want the offender to understand the impact of the harm they caused. Restorative Justice is unique because it is genuinely driven by the needs of the victim and provides something practical that can support recovery.
Alison: We’ve been fortunate to have an award-winning Restorative Justice service for many years. We also have a dedicated Restorative Justice Coordinator within the police force who identifies cases where the process could make a real difference. With such a strong focus on reducing reoffending, Restorative Justice is an invaluable tool.
Mark: The structure we have in Devon and Cornwall works particularly well. The coordinator speaks to victims and offenders, ensuring everyone understands the process and is willing to participate before a restorative justice practitioner becomes involved.
What is the role of a High Sheriff?
Mark: High Sheriffs serve for one year and look across the whole criminal justice system within their county. Many choose a theme for their year in office.
My interest in Restorative Justice began after listening to Amol Rajan’s Radical podcast interview with Jacob Dunne, Why I Met the Parents of the Man I Killed. I found it so powerful that I listened to it twice, then read Jacob’s book and started asking questions across the criminal justice system. The consistent message was that Restorative Justice is highly effective but doesn’t happen often enough.
That made it feel like the right focus for my year as High Sheriff. Coincidentally, a performance of Punch came to Plymouth during my first week in office, giving us an opportunity to bring together around 30 people to explore the topic further.
What are the challenges you face around Restorative Justice?
Alison: One challenge is that the Victims’ Code can become a tick-box exercise. It’s easy to record that a conversation has taken place, but much harder to measure the quality of that conversation and whether it genuinely helped the victim.
In the past, victims were often asked about Restorative Justice very early in the process, sometimes while giving their statement. At that stage, most people don’t fully understand what it is or how it could help them. The timing and quality of those conversations are crucial.
There’s also a wider challenge around public understanding. Some people see Restorative Justice as a soft option, but in reality, it is one of the most effective ways of helping offenders accept accountability. That accountability is one of the best ways to reduce reoffending.
I also think the wider criminal justice system doesn’t always consider Restorative Justice. Many agencies are focused on progressing cases through the system. Once that happens, victims can become lost in the conversation while attention shifts towards managing offenders.
Mark: I see two key challenges. The first is ensuring that professionals who work with victims recognise situations where Restorative Justice could help and feel confident having that conversation.
The second is timing. Often there is nobody talking to victims when they are most ready to consider the process. The professionals who remain in contact with victims are the people most likely to introduce the idea and explain its potential benefits.
What next?
Mark: At the moment, we estimate that only around four in every 1,000 cases are referred for Restorative Justice. We believe that figure could be much higher. We’ve set ourselves an ambition of increasing referrals to four in every 100 cases. Even that would only represent 4% of cases, but it feels like an achievable goal.
The challenge now is understanding how to get there. Everything we’ve seen suggests that greater awareness is key. Victims need the right information at the right time so they can make an informed choice.
Alison: That’s why we’re supporting an event in September that will bring together criminal justice professionals, people with lived experience and key stakeholders. The aim is to raise awareness of Restorative Justice and help ensure that victims are offered timely and accurate information about their options.
Find out more
Make Amends continues to deliver Restorative Justice services across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Anyone affected by crime in the region who would like to learn more about Restorative Justice can contact Make Amends for information and support.
