Immediate Justice

Find out more about the Immediate Justice scheme and how it works in Dorset to tackle and prevent further incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB)

What is Immediate Justice?

Immediate Justice is a way of dealing with adults found committing anti-social behaviour, where the offenders are made to repair the damage inflicted on victims and communities through unpaid work.

This work takes places swiftly following the offence being committed.

The work includes litter picking, removing graffiti or carrying out other work to make environmental improvements in anti-social hotspots.

In Dorset, as well as the unpaid work, Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Courses and Community Conferencing is also available. These measures seek to teach and educate to prevent repeat offending.

Immediate Justice is government funded and is part of the intervention action plan to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

What counts as anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour can include a range of nuisance and criminal behaviours which cause distress to others. Whether someone’s actions can be classed as anti-social behaviour relies heavily on the impact it has on other people.

Behaviour that is more frequent or persistent is more likely to be considered as anti-social behaviour. The type and intensity of the behaviour also matters.

Examples of anti-social behaviour can include:

noisy and/or abusive behaviour
vandalism
graffiti
intimidation
public drunkenness
littering
fly-tipping
illegal drug use

Who runs Immediate Justice in Dorset?

Dorset Police refer eligible offenders to Immediate Justice. Once referred, the community reparative work is undertaken by Red Snapper Managed Services. They arrange and supervise the unpaid work directly with the offender and complete a report once the stipulated hours are completed.

Restorative Solutions, who are already commissioned in Dorset for wider restorative justice services, run and manage the ASB Awareness Courses and the Community Conferencing.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, oversee the Immediate Justice scheme and manage the funding for the project.

Who is eligible for Immediate Justice?

Currently, adult offenders (those over the age of 18) who have committed anti-social behaviour related offences which lead to an Out of Court Resolution are eligible for the Immediate Justice scheme.

What work do offenders do as part of the reparations?

A range of workcan take place as part of the reparations. In Dorset, the majority of the work has been focused on litter picking and clearing public spaces. As the project progresses, work will include clearing graffiti and supporting local charities alongside other community-focused work.

What happens if offenders don’t comply?

If offenders fail to turn up for the unpaid work or cannot be contacted by Red Snapper Managed Services, they will be referred back to Dorset Police for action.

What happens in the courses?

The Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Course aims to deliver a restorative and rehabilitative input to those who have committed ASB offences. It is delivered in person and explores what caused the offence to be committed, and importantly, what needs to be done to repair the harm.

Victims can share information about the impact of the offence and if they wish, to engage with the person who has caused the harm. This ensures a victim’s voice is heard, and they are given the opportunity to ask questions and have their say in the resolution. Often this is by way of a simple apology but is always a victim’s choice.

Community Conferences are used when a community has been affected by ASB. It can be used to tackle criminal acts, ASB or a neighbourhood dispute. It is a voluntary intervention and needs the co-operation of both sides. It means all those involved are heard and are able to express what is needed for things to improve. Outcome agreements have led to commitments focused on reasonable and acceptable ways for all to behave.

What else is happening to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour in Dorset?

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour is a key priority of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. As part of this commitment, the PCC launched the Operation Relentless Community Fund which supports local projects and initiatives that reduce ASB and increase public feeling of safety in areas disproportionately affected by ASB. The PCC also runs the Fix The Future initiative which helps to create more prevention and diversion schemes for young people to give more of them development opportunities.

Alongside the PCC’s initiatives and priorities, Dorset Police’s own Op Relentless initiative continues to identify patterns and locations of ASB across the county enabling the Force to develop multi-agency action plans, prevent and disrupt ASB early on.

Hotspot patrols are also carried out by Neighbourhood Policing Teams, targeting specific ASB hotspots. Dorset Police have also launched the 100 Days of Summer initiative in Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth. The initiative sees officers, PCSOs, special constables and designated council patrol officers deployed in key areas of the towns to deal with ASB.

You can find out more about reporting here Contact and Engagement Leaflet · Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner (pcc.police.uk)

Where can I find more information about Immediate Justice?

You can find out more about Immediate Justice here: Action plan to crack down on anti-social behaviour - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

And for further information on anti-social behaviour – you can find out who to report to here Antisocial behaviour: how to get help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)