Page 61 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

Restorative Practice

3.7 Where restorative justice seeks to address the complex issues that result from
crime, restorative practice looks to the root causes of problematic behaviour
by focusing on preventing social ills. Central are the core aims of: 180

a) reducing crime and violence;
b) improving human behaviour;
c) restoring relationships; and
d) repairing harm.

3.8 We have heard of the need for this approach from communities who experience
mistreatment from the police, with such incidents described as a form of
trauma. 65% of BAME individuals believe the police to be biased. 181 These
communities framed the solution as starting with an acknowledgement of
historic wrongdoing, accompanied by a strong commitment to both improve
practice in the future, and to listen to their lived experiences. The police must
recognise that this perception of bias is unacceptable, and look to address it as
a matter of priority. Lessons can be learned from the CPS Community
Engagement Forums, where members of the community are invited to share
their experiences. Magistrates will also visit communities to speak about their
work through the Magistrates Association’s programme ‘Magistrates in the
Community’. 182 We consider that additional meetings deploying restorative
practice with BAME children, building on such admirable initiatives, can help
to create a shared understanding between these agencies and the communities
they serve. This is particularly important where confidence is low and there is
a growing call for uncomfortable conversations to happen before the CJS can
(re)gain credibility.

3.9 Restorative practices can also be used to better understand and engage with
children in the YJS. For instance, the Restorative Engagement Forum has
convened circles between police officers and children and young adults from
Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire. In these meetings a facilitator guided
participants’ self-expression, ensuring due focus on the impact of actions rather

180 T. Wachtel, ‘Defining restorative’, International Institute for Restorative Practices.
181 V. Dodd, ‘65% of minority ethnic Britons say police are biased against them’, The Guardian, 20
August 2020.
182 ‘Magistrates In The Community’. Magistrates Association.

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