Restorative Justice Week 2020
Last week we supported Restorative Justice Week and Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner facilitated a meeting for partners across Essex, the UK and across the globe to hear how Restorative Justice can help in domestic abuse cases.
On Friday 20 November, Jane was joined by 115 partners from across Essex to hear from Lucy, a domestic abuse survivor and ambassador for Why Me? who opened up during a virtual meeting about how restorative justice helped her alongside the criminal justice system.
Lucy bravely shared her story with representatives in the police, courts, restorative and mediation services and youth offending teams about how she had been hospitalised after her ex-partner assaulted her and told her 8-year-old daughter that she was dead.
Her partner was sentenced and after struggling for many years to come to terms with the trauma she had survived, Lucy decided she wanted to address her perpetrator and a visit was arranged via her local restorative justice service.
Lucy shared how the restorative justice process had given her the opportunity to face her perpetrator in a controlled environment and helped her feel empowered again.
She is now an ambassador for Why Me? a national restorative justice charity and encourages others to consider restorative justice. Her now grown up daughter is hoping to pursue a career in policing after seeing the various services help to support her and her mum growing up.
Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: “Lucy, you are an amazing, brave and inspirational woman.
“You’ve opened our eyes and there’s something really powerful in professionals hearing from people have experienced the process.
“Restorative justice is really important to Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and really important to me. We are really committed to working with colleagues across the system and are committed to keeping victims at the centre of the process.
“Domestic abuse is a key priority in our Police and Crime Plan and quite rightly so. It is also a key priority across the county, and I am honoured to be chair the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB). I was proud to see so many colleagues on the conference and thank everyone for their work.”
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex’s office funds the Essex Restorative and Mediation Service.
Find out more about Essex Restorative and Mediation Service at www.restorativeessex.co.uk
