Visible reparations after incidents of anti-social behaviour
As part of our series explaining some of the ways we’re tackling anti-social behaviour in Dorset, today’s newsletter will feature one of the key people involved in a key scheme.
When eligible first-time offenders who have committed low-level crimes are referred to Immediate Justice by Dorset Police or the local authorities, the unpaid work element of the scheme is dealt with by partner organisation Red Snapper Managed Services. During these placements, a supervisor oversees the unpaid work and submits a report to complete the placement.
In this newsletter, Dorset’s supervisor gives us an insight into his role and why these placements are a vital way for reparations to be made to the community following ASB.
“Immediate Justice gives someone an opportunity to put right the behaviour which has caused others or a community harm, while showing them the implications of that behaviour. It also tells them what could happen if they continue to act that way.
“For the public, I would say it is a really impactful scheme. It results in public spaces being nicely kept and cleared up thanks to the reparations the offenders are making. The visibility of the work being carried out is a clear demonstration to the public that offences and harm are being treated seriously, and action is clearly being taken to repair that harm.
“In this role, you wear a lot of hats; unofficial counsellor, motivator, career advisor and mentor. You must exercise patience as this is a time when you really can make a difference to someone’s progression through the way you treat people.
“When they turn up for the placements, the service users aren’t sure what to expect. While I make it clear they are here to complete a task as per the terms of the scheme, everyone is treated with respect and made to feel at ease.
“It’s very easy to write-off people who have entered the criminal justice system; but while this scheme rightly ensures reparations are paid, it also gives people a vital second chance, an opportunity to make amends.
“This is where the restorative justice impact is also vital. Through the unpaid work, education, and chance to say sorry, the opportunity Immediate Justice provides to take stock is crucial. I say it’s like being resuscitated; that life-changing event which forces you to re-evaluate your behaviour and path. We’re giving people a chance to change.
“The value of positive productivity is so important, and I know how much the service-users get out of it. For some it shows them they are capable of working, and gives that crucial confidence boost to put them on the path to employment.
“This scheme can be a lifeline for many. We know the value of it, and I hope the public see that too. It’s not a soft scheme, it’s a learning one, where public reparations are made. I’m looking forward to seeing the difference it makes to more and more people as it progresses.”
My thanks go to everyone involved in the Immediate Justice scheme in Dorset. I hope this goes some way towards demonstrating that positive action is being taken to tackle ASB in Dorset, and that it is treated seriously. Through initiatives like Immediate Justice, my Operation Relentless Community Fund, Fix The Future and robust police-led operations such as Op Track’s intensive hotspot patrols and 100 Days of Summer, the work being carried out is already working. Last year saw a 14% fall in incidences of anti-social behaviour, with a 25% reduction since 2019.
It is imperative for public confidence not just in the police service, but the criminal justice system as a whole, that justice is done and is seen to be done. That’s why the visible reparations which form an integral part of Immediate Justice are vital. I know the impact anti-social behaviour can have, and that’s why repairing the damage and giving back to the people who have been harmed is essential if we are all to feel safer where we live, work and visit.
David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner