Response to Justice Committee’s report on Restorative Justice

Responding to today’s publication of the Justice Committee’s report on Restorative Justice, Suzanne Jacob, Deputy Chief Executive of SafeLives said:

"We are pleased that the Justice Committee has accepted that there are risks to a blanket provision of Restorative Justice to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and we welcome their suggestion that the Ministry of Justice and the Restorative Justice Council should provide funding for training and best practice guidelines.

"There is still little evidence that current forms of restorative justice, rather than a more comprehensive framework for restorative practice, can help victims of domestic abuse. We remain concerned that perpetrators manipulating the system could put victims in real danger - particularly those at the highest risk of death or serious harm. We also don’t want to see RJ adopted as a ‘quick fix’ for a complex problem. We hope the MoJ and the RJC will commit to specialist domestic abuse professionals and victims being at the heart of designing best practice guidelines and any move to make Restorative Justice a legislative right."

Notes to editors

SafeLives submission to the Justice Select Committee

For more information, please contact Penny East, Head of Communications at SafeLives, on 07818 593 562 or by emailing penny.east@safelives.org.uk.

About SafeLives

SafeLives is a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for good. We combine data, research, and insight from services and survivors to find out what really works to make people safe. SafeLives wants support for people to be early, effective and consistent – wherever you live, whoever you are.