Ms Claire Casey:

On the question Deputy Finian McGrath asked about what helped people to report crime, we have found in running a restorative practice programme in Tallaght that where people hd received training in restorative practices – residents, as well as gardaí and agencies – when the evaluation was carried out, the people who had undergone the training and were using the skills said they were 30% more likely to report a crime. The evaluation involved self-reporting. Confidence was built in relationships with the Garda through the process. The aim is to broaden restorative justice provisions. The forum sincerely welcomes the intention to put the restorative justice process on a statutory footing. It is a step in the right direction in terms of adults having access to restorative justice processes in the criminal justice system. It is a first step. The recommendations tie in with everything that has been said by everyone present in making the processes more effective.

An example of a corporate victim would be where there is a break-in at a post office at night and nobody is hurt but the post office has been damaged – in that case An Post has been damaged. In such cases there is not strictly a victim for the Garda or the courts, but there is an impact on the community and a restorative justice option could be taken. I return to points made about the supports people need in terms of training, information or skills around approaches to restorative justice and it being done on an inter-agency basis.