 The
Scottish Executive has announced new funding to help introduce restorative
justice warnings in Cunninghame North. Allan Wilson MSP has given his
backing to the new restorative justice warning system, which will target
minors and first time offenders, and will allow for the offenders to repair
the damage they do to their communities.
£295,000.00 has been awarded to Strathclyde Police to provide training and
support for police officers, who will implement new guidelines on
restorative warnings from April 2006. The system already has been piloted in
a number of areas have been shown to be effective in reducing re-offending.
Welcoming the announcement Allan Wilson MSP said, “Overall crime is falling
but a persistent minority of vandals continue to run down our community.
With record police numbers and CCTV cameras detection rates are on the
increase. But we need to make sure that the punishment handed out is
effective, makes the offender face the consequences of their actions, and
reduces re-offending. Pilots have shown that restorative justice warnings
can cut re-offending to as low as 15% and I am hopeful that the new system
can have a positive impact in reducing youth offending in Cunninghame
North.”
Notes:
A police restorative warning is a process, facilitated by trained personnel
that involve the warning of an offender while addressing the impact on the
victim and the community. The victim will have the opportunity to be
informed of the outcome'.
The Executive's Partnership Agreement included a commitment to 'consult on a
national system of warnings for young offenders with a restorative element
where appropriate'. As a result of that consultation, the Executive
published Police Restorative Warnings in Scotland, Guidelines for the
Police, in June. It also gave a commitment to increase the funding given to
police forces to fund training and support in preparation for the roll out
of the guidelines.
A full breakdown of the funding is set out below, with the allocations for
2004/05, 2005-6 and total for the two years.
Strathclyde £147,500 + £147,500 = £295,000
Lothian and Borders £46,231 + £43,325 = £89,556
Grampian £44,090 + £29,375 = £73,465
Tayside £30,361 + £22,443 = £52,804
Fife £27,500 + £28,325 = £55,825
Central Scotland £30,275 + £9725 = £40,000
Northern £30,783 + £43, 371 = £74,154
D&G £15,000 + £15,000 = £30,000
BTP £10,016 + £6496 = £16,512
TOTAL FUNDING = £727,316 |
