Thanks to all of you who took the time and effort to contact me in relation to the draft Community Remedy Document. Comments that were received as part of the consultation process demonstrated clear support for an approach that will compliment restorative justice in the county.
Having made a few minor amendments to reflect some of your observations, the Community Remedy Document has now been agreed by Chief Constable Suzette Davenport in line with requirements set out in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
You can view it here: Community Remedy Document PDF 290914
The local approach developed in partnership with Restorative Gloucestershire will compliment restorative justice in the county by ensuring victims of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour have a greater say in what happens to those individuals who have caused them harm. This is in line with my desire, and that of the police, to put victims and the wider public at the heart of all we do.
A number of locally based police officers who are already trained to deliver restorative practices in the county will now receive some additional training to support this approach.
The community remedy document forms part of the changes set out in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which gives the police and our partners more flexible means to deal with those who cause the greatest harm to our communities. The powers, due to come into effect in the Autumn, include civil injunctions that replace anti-social behaviour orders and Public Space Protection Orders to tackle environmental anti-social behaviour.
Community remedies should not be seen as a soft option and strong punishments will be handed down where appropriate. However, although the focus is on victims, the aim is also to have a positive impact on the perpetrator in order to reduce re-offending and further acts of anti-social behaviour.
The legislative guidance relating to the ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, CRIME AND POLICING ACT 2014 which received Royal Assent in May this year can be viewed via the link below.
Yours sincerely
Martin Surl, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire
