Re:Hub Review - Working Together to Shape What Comes Next

The review of the HMPPS Restorative Practice Hub (Re:Hub) has created a significant moment for restorative justice. For many across the sector, it has raised important questions about how restorative justice is understood, supported and delivered within prison and probation settings, particularly where cases are complex, sensitive or involve significant harm.

At the Restorative Justice Council, we believe this moment must be met with care, openness and constructive leadership. We have been engaging closely with the process, including ongoing dialogue with HMPPS, while listening carefully to views across the sector. Our focus is on helping to shape what comes next in a way that protects safety, strengthens quality and keeps victims’ needs at the centre of practice.

A moment for reflection and constructive development

The review has brought into focus a number of challenges that are familiar across complex restorative justice practice, including clarity in decision-making, the timeliness of case progression, consistency of approach, and communication with practitioners and victims. While these issues are not new, the current context provides an important opportunity to reflect on how the system can be strengthened.

From the RJC’s perspective, this is not simply about responding to the review itself. It is about helping to shape what comes next in a way that is grounded in practice, evidence and professional standards.

Collaborative thinking across the sector

As part of this work, we have been developing emerging thinking with Remedi and Restorative Solutions, drawing on shared experience of delivering restorative justice in complex cases.

This collaboration brings together practical insight from across operational delivery and explores how the system might be strengthened, particularly in relation to:

• decision-making in sensitive cases involving significant harm
• effective risk management and safeguarding
• the role of providers and practitioners within multi-agency processes
• building confidence in restorative justice among statutory partners

We have shared this early, high-level thinking with HMPPS to support purposeful discussion about how future arrangements could be strengthened.

“As we shape what comes next, it is important that we model the values we stand for: working collaboratively, openly and through meaningful dialogue.”
James Simon, Chief Executive Officer, Restorative Justice Council

Remedi and Restorative Solutions have played a central role in developing this thinking. Their practical delivery experience has helped test ideas, sharpen the focus of the work and ensure that discussions remain grounded in the realities of complex restorative justice practice.

“In complex cases, safe and effective restorative justice depends on practical insight as well as strong principles. Bringing delivery experience into these discussions is essential if any future approach is to work in practice.”
 Remedi

“Creating space for open, cross-sector dialogue will be vital as the next stage of this work develops. Strengthening how we work together can help build greater consistency, confidence and trust in complex restorative justice practice.”
 Restorative Solutions

Together, these contributions have helped shape a more rounded understanding of what the next phase of work may need to address, and why continued engagement with HMPPS will be important as discussions progress.

Engagement with HMPPS

We are continuing to engage constructively with HMPPS and are seeking opportunities to meet in the near future to explore these ideas in more detail. This includes considering a range of possible approaches that could help strengthen how the sector and Re:Hub connect in practice.

At this stage, the work remains exploratory. It is not a formal proposal or fixed model. The aim is to support discussion, test ideas, identify what is working well and consider where there may be opportunities to strengthen the system.

This work is being developed carefully and in collaboration with partners. We are mindful of the importance of respecting ongoing processes and ensuring that any developing approach is shaped through appropriate engagement and governance.

Balancing access, safety and confidence

Across these discussions, one issue has become especially clear: the future approach must hold access, safety and confidence together rather than treating them as competing priorities.

Three core priorities sit at the centre of this work:

• Ensuring access to restorative justice for those who may benefit from it
• Maintaining safety and quality, particularly in complex or sensitive contexts
• Building confidence among victims, practitioners and statutory partners

These priorities are closely connected. Strengthening one requires attention to all three.

Ongoing engagement with members

We are continuing to engage with members and stakeholders as the work progresses. Insight from services, practitioners and those with lived experience remains essential to shaping the RJC’s contribution.

As the position becomes clearer, we will share further updates and create opportunities for members to contribute in ways that support open, practical and values-led discussion across the sector.

Looking ahead

The Re:Hub review marks more than a point of transition; it is an opportunity to strengthen the foundations on which restorative justice is delivered in prison and probation settings. If approached well, this moment can help build a system that is safer, clearer, more consistent and more trusted by victims, practitioners and statutory partners alike.

For the RJC, the priority is clear: to bring sector experience into the conversation and help ensure that any future approach is grounded in safety, quality, evidence and professional standards. That means working collaboratively with partners and HMPPS, while continuing to model the values that restorative justice asks of others: openness, accountability, respect and meaningful dialogue.

We will continue to keep the sector updated as the next phase takes shape and will work to ensure that the sector’s voice remains visible, credible and constructive in shaping what comes next.