Offenders in Newtown are to be given the opportunity to meet their victims and make amends for their crimes.
But is that something you’d want if you were a victim and will offenders take up the opportunity to meet the people whose live they have affected?
Wales Community Rehabilitation Company, which provides probation services for medium to low risk offenders, has launched a scheme across Powys which allows offenders to be held to account for the distress or damage they have caused by facing their victims.
Commissioned by the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, the Dyfed Powys Restorative Justice Scheme aims to bring together people harmed by crime or conflict with those responsible for the harm in a controlled environment.
The scheme gives victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, get answers to their questions and an apology.
It also holds offenders to account for what they have done and helps them understand the real impact and take responsibility.
There are now plans to introduce the scheme at Wales CRC’s offices in Newtown, which covers Montgomeryshire.
Ella Rabaiotti, Head of Wales CRC’s Dyfed Powys Local Delivery Unit, said: “Restorative Justice is a powerful way to get offenders to understand the effect their actions can have on their victims.
“Getting victims and their offenders to meet can take time as probation staff have to get agreement from both sides and must to make sure that the victim feels safe and comfortable at all times before the conference can go ahead.
“When the meetings finally take place they are quite often emotional for both sides but can also have a positive experience.
“For victims just having an answer to their question ‘why?’ or an apology means they can move on with their lives. For the offenders understanding how they have hurt a person has a powerful impact on them and prevents them reoffending.”
Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “I’ve seen restorative practice in action – and it works. It’s good for the crime victim, the offender and the community.
“I encourage victims and offenders to look on any restorative resolution with positivity and optimism.
“I also encourage individuals and community groups around Dyfed Powys to approach Wales CRC with any ideas they have about how restorative schemes such as Community Payback could work in their local area.”
