Restorative Justice backed by Lib Dems
A new scheme to fight crime, which has seen reoffending rates cut to less than five per cent in areas where it is running, is to be introduced by Liberal Democrat controlled Northampton Borough Council.
“Restorative Justice makes the offender account for their actions to the victim” explained Paul Varnsverry. “The offender can also be ordered by community justice panels to do community work which is directly relevant to their crime, to make them understand the full consequences of their actions.
In Liberal Democrat controlled Somerset, where Restorative Justice was pioneered, reoffending rates have plummeted to below 5%. Mainstream punishment methods see reoffending rates of over 75% and up to 92% from short-term imprisonment. The scheme has been equally successful in Leicestershire and is about to be introduced in Sheffield.
“Liberal Democrats in Northampton are backing Restorative Justice as an effective method to cut crime.” added Paul Varnsverry.
