RESTORATIVE CAUTIONS

Early day motion 1344, tabled 20 May 2002 by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour). Signed by 30 members.

That this House welcomes the recent research into restorative cautions by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; congratulates Thames Valley Police on the success of their restorative cautioning initiative; notes the evidence that suggests such cautions, in which all parties including victims were involved in the cautioning process, resulted in a lower re-offending rate of 14 per cent. compared to a rate of 28 per cent. for those not involved in the scheme; further notes that such cautions left the victims of crime feeling more satisfied with the judicial process; and calls upon the Government to urge all forces to follow the example of Thames Valley Police in using restorative cautions.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.