Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0125
Lead Officer: Grace Boughton, Policy and Partnerships Officer for Criminal Justice
Chief Officer approval: Chief Inspector Phil Norbury
Date: 15/02/2024
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
Community Remedy policy document applicable when Warwickshire Police deal with the low-level offences outside of court and manage the offender(s) within the community in consultation with the victim.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: P.Seccombe
Date: 26/02/2024
Supporting information
1. Background information
Community Remedy is a guidance document that is applicable when Warwickshire Police decide to deal with the low-level offences outside of court and manage the offender(s) within the community in consultation with the victim.
2. List of additional information attached as appendices
- APCC Community Remedy Briefing
- Community Remedy document – 2024 version
- Community Remedy document – Pre 2024 version
- Email trail 1 – Community Remedy, Police Comments
- Email trail 2 – Community Remedy, OPCC Document
3. Expected benefits
Out-of-Court Resolutions and Community Resolutions are workable, sometimes more beneficial, alternatives to court. Greater knowledge and utilisation of these alternatives could contribute towards easing the current volume-of-work crises being experienced within different stages of the criminal justice system.
These alternatives should also place emphasis on being victim focused, and rehabilitating offender behaviour through diversionary intervention and reflective learning.
4. Impact of not approving the application
Not approving this application would be in contradiction of Section 101 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014).
5. Costs (including any identified savings)
If greater knowledge and utilisation of these alternatives could ease the current volume of work within the criminal justice system, then hopefully this could generate savings across the multiple criminal justice organisations involved (e.g., multiple costs associated with court proceedings, and holding persons in custody and/or imprisonment).
6. Equality considerations
As this is a public facing document (via OPCC Warwickshire’s website), all victims of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour have a reference point regarding their involvement in how offenders should be dealt with.
7. Legal comments
As per Section 101 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014), Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are responsible for the ownership, reviewal, and publication of the document, in partnership with their respective Chief Constable, the local authority, voluntary groups and other interested community representatives on what should be included in the remedy.
8. Social or Environmental considerations
The public should be able to see the offender putting right what they have done wrong, or being asked to participate in an activity that deters them from re-offending which requires their agreement to engage.
9. Publication
This document is published on OPCC Warwickshire’s website (current published version accessible here).
Comments from the Treasurer
Increased utilisation of alternative resolutions within the criminal justice system will likely generate cashable and non-cashable savings across the multiple criminal justice organisations.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This policy supports Out-of-Court Resolutions and Community Resolutions being utilised as an alternative to court, easing the current volume-of-work crises being experienced within different stages of the criminal justice system., whilst emphasis being victim focused, and rehabilitating offender behaviour through diversionary intervention and reflective learning.
