Scheme sees criminals meeting their victims in Angmering

The village is one of three communities in Arun district where a new scheme, Restorative Justice, gives people affected by low-level offences the chance to sit down with the perpetrator.

At its launch last week, Peter Woolf, an ex-offender, gave a powerful account of how Restorative Justice had turned his life around.

He told the audience that he felt “deeply ashamed”, adding: “Up until that point my victims were an A4 piece of paper – they were a police statement.

“I haven’t offended for 11 years, I haven’t taken drugs for 11 years, I haven’t touched a drink for 11 years. That’s what this process has done to me. Restorative Justice is about understanding another human being.”

The pilot scheme, which has the working title; ‘Restorative Arun: Giving Communities a Voice’, will be piloted in Angmering, Barnham and Bersted. The term ‘restorative justice’ means bringing the people responsible for a crime or harm in direct contact with those affected or victims of their actions.

Speakers at the launch, in Bognor, also included Chief Inspector Jane Derrick, Arun district police commander, and Katy Bourne, Sussex policing and crime commissioner.

Councillor Paul Wotherspoon, Arun cabinet member for community development, said: “The launch event was very successful and informative and helped to explain what we wish to achieve.

“A Neighbourhood Resolution Conference is not about deciding guilt or apportioning blame, it’s about giving the victim the opportunity to describe the impact of the incident and how it has affected them, and for the offender to explain their behaviour, and then for both parties to reach an agreement about the outcome”.

It’s hoped the scheme could also reduce crime in Arun.