Member

Under the victims’ code, victims must be informed about restorative justice and how to access it. As part of the consultation on a new code, which is currently live, we are engaging widely to ensure that victims are offered restorative justice at the right time. I would very much welcome the noble Baroness contributing to the consultation. However, placing referral to restorative justice for all victims on a statutory footing would be neither necessary nor appropriate. The safety and welfare of those involved is paramount, and automatic, or certainly repeated, referral would therefore not always be suitable. The Government already receive regular reporting from police and crime commissioners as part of the Ministry of Justice grant management process, which includes information on restorative justice. A further national assessment would simply duplicate what is already in place. For these reasons, I ask the noble Baroness not to press her amendments.