Who are we?
The Staffordshire Victim Gateway and Restorative Justice Service is a free and confidential local service that provides information, advice and practical and emotional support to all victims of crime in Staffordshire. We support victims from the point of reporting a crime to the Police, throughout their entire Criminal Justice journey and to the point where they are able to regain the control over their lives again.
The Gateway will also support victims who for whatever reason have made the difficult decision not to report their experience to the Police but may still need support to help them come to terms with what has happened to them. As a service we acknowledge that anyone can become a victim of crime. It affects people in many different ways, for some this can be a difficult and often distressing experience that can leave them feeling angry, afraid or just unsure of what to do next. Others may feel numb and it can be some time before the true impact of what has happened is felt.
We know that the prospect of appearing in court, and the process that precedes it should victims be required to, can be a confusing and daunting experience. We can help them prepare for this and make sure that all the support and any special measures needed are in place to help them do this. Our service is committed to helping individuals and families to cope with their experience of becoming a victim of crime and to help them to recover from any harm caused and we will do that in the way most appropriate to them and their circumstances..
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an intervention method used that supports the person harmed from crime to communicate with the person who is responsible for causing the harm. It is available at various stages of the criminal justice process including; after arrest, after conviction or even once the person responsible for the crime has been released.
Many victims feel that the criminal justice system does not give them a chance to get involved, therefore, Restorative Justice puts victims at the heart of the justice process; it also holds the person responsible for the crime committed to account, in order for them to understand the impact of their actions, taking responsibility and to make amends.
Restorative Justice can also have an impact on the wider community as it has been proven to reduce re-offending rates in offenders which in turn could reduce the number of persons harmed by crime. There have been many studies showing the positive results, however, Restorative Justice can only be used with offenders who admit their guilt.
Contact the Staffordshire Victim Gateway
Call 0330 0881 339 (calls charged at local rate
Lines are open:
Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30 am to 7 pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays 10 am to 3 pm
Email [email protected] or use the online contact form at https://www.staffsvictimsgateway.org.uk/vg-contact-us/
Contact the Restorative Justice Hub
Call 01782 408 757 and leave a voicemail
Email [email protected] or use the online contact form at https://www.staffsvictimsgateway.org.uk/vg-contact-us/
