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Crime Solicitors

Shropshire residents asked to help compile list of “retributions” for criminals (22 August 2014)

Date: 22/08/2014
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Shropshire residents asked to help compile list of “retributions” for criminals

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia, Bill Longmore, has announced that a public consultation will take place into the sort of punishments the public would like to see handed down to offenders.,/strong>

Local publisher the Shropshire Star reports that the public’s views on retributions for offenders will be included in a Community Remedy Document – and from October, the police will offer the list of options for punishments to victim who will be able to select the one they feel is most appropriate to the crime.

The Community Remedy Document will apply to crimes which would normally attract a punishment involving a conditional caution or community resolution.

Face-to-face mediation might be one of the punishments available to victims, whereby a professional mediator chairs a meeting between the offender and the victim, to enable the victim to address the impact on them of the crime committed.

Neighbourhood justice panels might also be an option on the list of possible retributions – whereby the victim and members of the public meet with the offender to agree on an appropriate punishment.

Offenders may have to send a written apology to their victims – as well as potentially paying damages and carrying out unpaid community work.

Offenders may also have to sign contracts under which they agree to undergo appropriate treatments, such as anti-alcohol or anti-drug therapies.

The measures are being introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

West Mercia PCC Bill Longmore said:

“It is important that as many people as possible play their part in helping to shape a more locally-driven and victim-centred approach to criminal justice, and one that makes offenders payback directly to those who they have offended against.

“It has always been my intention to put victims at the very heart of the criminal justice system – and this new legislation allows me to do just that.”

Last year, Mr Longmore defended his policy of using the police community fund to send flowers to the victims of burglaries and muggings – the charitable fund is directly supported by police officers who pay a small sum out of their salaries towards it.

Mr Longmore said that the idea of sending flowers came from his years as a serving police officer:

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but the point is where do you stop – you can’t give out flowers to victims of every crime.
“I used to do it when I was in the police – I would send letters to the family if there was a particularly tragic accident or something like that.”

The deadline for the public consultation into the Community Remedy Document is 22 September and West Mercia Police will publish the list of available retributions on 20 October.

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