Last Saturday the Home Affairs Select Committee chaired by Keith Vaz came to Sheringham. The meeting was attended by Norman Lamb MP, Keith Vaz MP and Sheringham County Councillor Brian Hannah, the Norfolk champion for restorative justice. At the meeting local residents and police explained how their pioneering use of restorative justice, had worked well in and around the town.
As a result Mr. Vaz has given local delegation for a group from Sheringham to give evidence to the select committee in Westminster.
Restorative Justice is an approach which gets the offender to confront the consequences of their wrongdoing and helps the victim recover from the impact of a crime. The offender repays in some way the victim or the local community. Local police have foud that this approach cuts the rate of re-offending and helps the victim who has often suffered a traumatic experience.
Mr. Vaz hearing evidence from local residents
This viewpoint was shared by residents who had undergone the process themselves.
Mr Vaz said: “What you have to say here in Sheringham will have a direct impact on what the committee says to the government when the inquiry is complete. I think this has been a brilliant meeting. What you have got here, the experience you have, is something you can share.”
The committee is conducting a survey running until June 17 which can be found at: www.parliament.uk/policing-priorities.
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