Often violent crime is dealt with by means of an apology in Wales.
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Hundreds of violent crimes are dealt with by means of an apology.
HUNDREDS of violent crimes are being dealt with by an apology in Wales, as many as one in 14 at one force.
In 2015/16 one in 14 violence against the person offences (6.9%) was recorded by Dyfed-Powys police as being dealt with by a community resolution, where the victim agrees to accept an apology or some other act to make up for the offence.
In total, 360 violence against the person offences, out of 5,189, were dealt with by a community resolution.
Across Wales, 1,681 violence against the person offences were dealt with by a community resolution in 2015/16, 3.4%, slightly lower than the England and Wales overall rate of 4.4%.
In Dyfed-Powys, one in 13 (7.7%) of assault with injury offences in 2015/16 were dealt with by a community resolution, 181 out of 2,340, while the force dealt with 21 out of 332 offences of harassment with a community resolution.
In South Wales, six offences of cruelty to children or young persons were dealt with by a community resolution in 2015/16, one case each of kidnapping and stalking, and seven threats to kill.
There were two assaults with intent to cause serious harm dealt with by a community resolution in Dyfed-Powys in 2015/16, as well as four in Gwent and 10 in South Wales.
Across England and Wales, 42,164 violence against the person offences were dealt with by a community resolution in 2015/16, 4.4%.
Hundreds of violent crimes are dealt with by means of an apology.
The use of community resolutions are primarily aimed at first time offenders where genuine remorse has been expressed and where the victim has agreed that they do not want the police to take more formal action.
The objective, according to police forces, is to empower victims and place them at the heart of the criminal justice system.
Community resolutions take the form of things like personal or community reparations, a written or verbal apology, and local diversionary activity.
This may involve a reparative act such as painting a fence damaged by the offender, writing a letter of apology or reimbursing the victim for their financial loss.
The victim makes the choice about what the act would be and the offender needs to agree, with the officer involved giving guidance about would be appropriate and realistic.
Some offences will be dealt with by a community resolution at the time or soon after the offence, with others needing time and discussion to come up with the best resolution.
According to the Association of Chief Police Officers (now the National Police Chiefs' Council), community resolution is "for the resolution of a less serious offence or anti-social behaviour incident", with appropriate violent crimes for community resolution likely to be low level, namely "minor assaults (without injury)".
Specifically on Domestic Violence, ACPO states that "ACPO guidelines for domestic abuse/domestic violence does not support the use of RJ in determining outcomes in this area."
Furthermore ACPO state that "DA/DV represents serious risk to the victims of such offences and is often subject to a complex and protracted investigation. As such there will be little opportunity for the use of RJ in the vast majority of such offences".
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/hundreds-of-violent-crimes-dealt-with-by-a-sorry-or-some-other-resolution-in-wales/story-30063620-detail/story.html#8BRRLDXAEwQK6ZoM.99
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