RJC response to the Victims’ Code consultation paper

In this 2013 response, the Restorative Justice Council (RJC) welcomed Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses, and the inclusion of restorative justice in one of the nine principles underpinning the new Victims’ Code.

We were pleased to see that Improving the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, which followed this, ensured that for the first time victims of adult offenders will be entitled to receive information on restorative justice. 

The revised Victims’ Code is a key step in ensuring that victims who want restorative justice are able to access it where it is available and that appropriate safeguards will be in place.

We made four recommendations in relation to restorative justice in our consultation response:

• We proposed that the duty to offer restorative justice be amended to a duty to refer victims to the relevant restorative justice service.
• We proposed that the duty of police to assess suitability for restorative justice is removed (as this is the role of the restorative justice facilitator).
• We proposed that the duty of police to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place is made clearer and more transparent by amending the wording to "ensure RJC Restorative Service Standards are met".
• We proposed that the Victims’ Code includes recognition of the Restorative Service Quality Mark as the assurance victims can seek that restorative justice is being offered and delivered to national standards.