Community Remedy was introduced to give victims of low-level crime a greater say in how offenders should be dealt with. It is about having a victim focus and rehabilitating offender behaviour through diversionary intervention and reflective learning.
It happens in consultation with the victim of the crime when an out of court resolution is appropriate and workable.
Out-of-court resolutions are for lower-level and first-time offences and are a proportionate method of dealing with crime. They are an important way of tackling the early stages of offending behaviour and trying to reduce reoffending. Out-of-court resolutions are monitored by the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) and related subgroups.
To use a community resolution, the offender must first give an admission or otherwise accept full responsibility for the offence. The officer can then decide, after consultation with the victim, that the matter would be better dealt within the community.
The final decision on how to deal with the offender is made by Warwickshire Police.
You can find more information on Community Remedy in this document.
Community Remedy Options
Victims can choose from a list of Community Remedy options that are provided below:
- An apology (in person or a written apology): from the offender to the victim, which is genuine and acceptable.
- A ban: from named premises for a specified period.
- An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (or an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement): a written, voluntary agreement between a person who has been involved in anti-social behaviour and one or more local agencies whose role it is to prevent such behaviour.
- A reparative activity (e.g., cleaning, repairing damage etc.): where there is no “physical” victim (e.g., the damage is to a community facility), the victim and/or officer in charge may decide that the offender should carry out some repairs in the community by way of recompense.
- Financial compensation: a one-off payment for the damage caused to land or property, or the cost of replacing stolen goods, or a donation to a charity of the victim’s choice.
- Any other appropriate action: which the police officer has agreed with the victim and subsequently with the officer’s line manager. The officer in charge will be able to use their professional judgement and, in consultation with the victim, come up with a range of options that may be appropriate for the offender to participate in.
Some of our Community Remedy options also align with the ethos and practices of restorative justice. Please click here to find out more about Restorative Justice in Warwickshire.
