Minister outlines proposals for restorative justice

Criminal Justice Minister, David Hanson, has published draft guidelines intended to bring existing community-based restorative justice schemes into a relationship with the police and other statutory criminal justice agencies.

The Minister said that the schemes, which will reflect the safeguards set out in the Criminal Justice Review, were not an alternative to policing.

He said: “Let me make it clear that the PSNI has sole responsibility for policing in all areas of Northern Ireland. These draft guidelines are about implementing the Review recommendation for an unambiguous and appropriate relationship between community-based schemes and the statutory agencies, including the police, in respect of dealing with low-level offenders in local communities."

The Minister said that he was aware of the concerns about the way schemes may operate, but he said the draft guidelines made clear that the involvement of the PSNI was "not negotiable".

Mr Hanson said that the Criminal Justice Review had recommended a possible role for these schemes in dealing with the types of "low-level crime", subject to stringent safeguards on how the schemes operated.

A consultation on the published guidelines will be completed in three months.

Speaking after the Minister's meeting with the Policing Board, Chairman Sir Desmond Rea, described the meeting as "frank", one where concerns about the operation and funding of schemes had been reitierated.

Sir Desmond said: "The Board's position on Community Restorative Justice remains unchanged in that: First, Members believe that Restorative Justice is, in principle, a good concept but would only support any such initiative where good practice and robust protocols surround it. Secondly, Members are adamant that Restorative Justice system Schemes must not exclude the police service in Northern Ireland and that the establishment of any form of two-tier system would be extremely damaging to policing, and would do a grave disservice to the Northern Ireland community. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, Members unanimously agree that Government should not be progressing any initiatives of this nature unless, and until, all political parties have endorsed the existing police structures. Only then will the time be right for such initiatives, and only then can the Board be assured that the PSNI will be involved, will remain involved and will not be ousted at some point in the future because of the political imperatives of the day."

Sir Desmond said that the guidelines published today will now be considered in detail by the Board and we will be asking the PSNI for considered views on the protocols.

A full response will be produced by the Policing Board who will meet the Minister again before the end of the consultation period to discuss the Board's response.

(SP)