https://west-midlands.police.

uk/your-options/community-resolution#:~:text=Community
%20Resolutions%20provide%20an%20opportunity,any%20graffiti%20or%20criminal
%20damage.

Community Resolution Order

● Once an officer has decided that a Community Resolution would be

suitable, under the Victim Code, they will ask the victim how they
would prefer the offence to be resolved. There are four possible
options, restorative justice, warning and agreement, restoration and
rehabilitation. Officers are required to take the victim’s views into
consideration but are not bound by them.

● What are the different

types of community
resolutions?
● Restorative Justice meeting or conference
This is where a meeting, facilitated by the police, is held in a safe
environment between the victim and the offender to discuss the
offence and the effect it had on those involved. Sometimes the
meeting itself may suffice as the agreed resolution. This is because
many victims will be satisfied with the opportunity of meeting the
offender and being able to discuss the incident. The offender will
only be considered to have successfully participated in the
Restorative Justice if they attend and engage appropriately in the
process. If they attend the meeting but say nothing throughout it, this
would not be full participation.

● Warning and Agreement

This option is most likely to be applicable in the context of
neighbourhood or anti-social behaviour matters where the crime in
question is part of a wider pattern of behaviour. This option might be
used to deal with an incident of criminal damage which represents
 the latest in a series of incidents of ASB. The resolution might be
that the offender is warned about the impact of their behaviour on a
victim and is then required to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract
(ABC). It is not sufficient that the offender makes a general promise
not to commit future offences. The resolution will only be complete
once the offender had been warned and has signed an Acceptable
Behaviour Contract or other relevant agreement. Failure to adhere to
the terms of the Acceptable Behaviour Contract afterwards would
present the opportunity to escalate enforcement to some form of civil
injunction.

● Reparation
Reparation can be direct to the victim: for example, offering financial
compensation, or engaging in some form of work to make amends for
the damage they have caused. It can also be indirect: rather than
doing something that directly benefits the victim, reparation might be
to the wider community, such as participation in an organised litter
pick or voluntary work. Officers will not agree to be intermediaries for
the exchange of cash between victims and offenders.

● Rehabilitation
Rehabilitative activities look to address the underlying cause of an
offender’s behaviour. It is generally accepted that there are certain
risk factors which will contribute to offending behaviour. This can
include issues with accommodation, drug or alcohol addiction,
physical or mental ill-health, family or children, attitude or thinking
skills, education, training or employment or debt and financial
hardship. In most cases officers are not in a position to provide the
support necessary to tackle such issues, but Community Resolutions
offer an opportunity to signpost offenders to interventions delivered
by partner agencies. For example if an individual is committing crime
due to drug abuse issue they may be required to engage with
substance abuse support workers.

● Victim Awareness Course

An offender who plays down the impact of their behaviour may be
required to attend a victim awareness course. This will allow them to
better understand the harm their behaviour has caused.
● What happens if an
offender fails to
complete the
community resolution?
● If an offender fails to comply with the agreed outcome, officers can
revert to dealing with the incident through the normal criminal justice
process. The fact the offender has failed to complete the outcome
can be disclosed as part of any subsequent court case.