OFFENDERS will meet their victims as part of a new restorative justice project in Gwent.

Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Prescoed in Monmouthshire will establish a Restorative Justice and a Restorative Approaches project which will give victims the chance to meet or communicate with their offenders to explain the real impact of the crime.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Ian Johnston and Gwent Police are supporting the prison in establishing a number of projects providing essential training and unused office furniture donated by Gwent Police.

Restorative Justice empowers victims by giving them a voice and holds offenders to account for what they have done.

It also helps them to take responsibility and make amends for their crimes.

At Prescoed there are two Practitioners who have been trained and accredited by the Restorative Justice Council, with the long term plan to adopt a Restorative Approach throughout the prison.

Gwent PCC Ian Johnston is a big supporter of using restorative approaches to resolve conflict and has awarded funding towards the Making Connections project run by Monmouth Comprehensive School.

The project provides high quality training, support and development for Gwent Police and other partner organisations in the methods of restorative approaches.

Staff and offenders at Prescoed are now set to benefit from the training which enables those who have received it to become qualified trainers themselves and extend the project beyond the prison.

Restorative Justice Coordinator and Offender Supervisor at HMP Prescoed, Jason Whitcombe, said: “We feel that that Restorative Justice is a fantastic opportunity for the prison given that the prisoners based here are coming towards the end of their sentences and are looking to reintegrate back into the community.

“The most effective form of restorative justice is face to face meetings and it can prepare an offender for release by helping them to explore the needs of their victims, the victims’ families and their own families.”

Government research demonstrates that restorative justice provides an 85 percent victim satisfaction rate and a 14 percent reduction in the frequency of reoffending while savings of £185 million can be made to the criminal justice system over two years, through reductions in re-offending alone.

Gwent PCC Ian Johnston, said: “If the restorative approach is adopted throughout Wales and beyond, it could have a significant impact on reducing criminal activity by addressing the root causes of problems before they escalate into something bigger.”