Why me? welcomes the call for better communication about Restorative Justice for people injured or bereaved through road crime in a new report published by the Victims’ Commissioner.
The report, Forgotten Victims: Barriers to Justice Following a Road Traffic Collision, highlights how lengthy investigations, poor communication and inconsistent support aggravates the suffering experienced by many victims and bereaved families.
The report also includes a dedicated section on better communication about Restorative Justice. It recognises that victims’ rights to be referred to support services extend to Restorative Justice services, and that several victims involved in the research wanted the opportunity to explore a restorative process after their case had concluded.
Restorative Justice brings people harmed by crime into communication with the person responsible, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. It is voluntary for everyone involved and facilitated by trained practitioners following careful preparation.
It does not replace a criminal investigation, prosecution or sentence. Instead, it can address needs and questions that the formal justice process may leave unanswered.
Victims who contributed to the report said that Restorative Justice could have helped them find answers, understand more about the circumstances surrounding the collision and gain a greater sense of resolution after sentencing. For them, it offered a possible way forward after a criminal process that had often been lengthy, difficult and emotionally demanding.
The report also describes a victim who expressed an interest in Restorative Justice but received no further information. They were left unsure whether the person responsible had declined or whether their request had simply not been followed up. The report rightly identifies this as concerning because receiving information about Restorative Justice is part of victims’ rights under the Victims’ Code.
Better communication must mean more than mentioning Restorative Justice once or including it in a pack of information. All victims, whatever the crime, need:
- a clear and accurate explanation of Restorative Justice;
- information offered sensitively and revisited when appropriate;
- prompt referral to a suitable service if they are interested; and
- clear follow-up, including when a restorative process cannot proceed.
Restorative Justice will not be right for everyone, and the participation of everyone involved must always be voluntary. But, victims cannot make an informed choice if they are not told it exists or if their request is not acted upon.
In our 2025 blog, National Road Victim Month: Road Harm and Restorative Justice we argued that Restorative Justice can complement the criminal justice process by putting victims at the centre and giving them the opportunity to ask questions and explain the harm caused directly to the person responsible. Why me? welcomes the Victims’ Commissioner’s recognition of the role Restorative Justice can play. We will continue working to ensure that everyone affected by road crime has the information and support needed to explore whether it is right for them.
