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Deputy Police Commissioner urges
victims to consider restorative justice
MERSEYSIDE'S Deputy Police Commissioner
is marking International Restorative Justice Week by encouraging victims of
crime who want to get answers from the perpetrators to use the county's
restorative justice service.
Cllr Emily Spurrell made the appeal as she promoted the awareness raising week
by visiting Victim Support Merseyside, who deliver the Police Commissioner's
service offering victims of crime the option to access restorative justice on
Merseyside.
During the visit, she met the team who run the Restorative Justice service and
heard examples of how the service has benefited victims of crime across
Merseyside, including the account of 1 Merseyside woman who was shot during a
robbery, at a Petrol Station.
After going through the restorative justice process and eventually meeting her
attacker the woman said:- "I never thought I would be able to go a whole
day without remembering what happened on the day I was shot. Now I tend to think
more about the positive experience of the meeting I had with him."
Restorative justice enables a victim to have contact with those responsible for
the crime to explain to them the real impact of their offending behaviour and to
get answers to their questions. It empowers a victim to challenge the offender's
actions and it can often be a huge step in helping them move forward and recover
from the crime.
International Restorative Justice Week runs from November 19 to 26 and aims to
increase awareness and knowledge of restorative justice and how victims of crime
can use it to find a positive way forward.
Emily said:- "The theme for this year's International Restorative Justice
Week is 'Valuing Victims' which highlights the fact that the victims lie at the
heart of our restorative justice service here in Merseyside. For some people
affected by crime, it can be very difficult living with unanswered questions and
it may be that the only person who can answer those questions is the person who
did the harm. Restorative justice is about giving victims the chance to be
heard, to get answers and to get a sense of closure; for some victims the
process is invaluable in helping them to cope, recover and move forward with
their lives. As we mark International Restorative Justice Week, I was delighted
to visit Victim Support Merseyside to hear 1st hand about the work they are
delivering and how it is making a difference in the lives of people who have
been through some very traumatic experiences. I want to use this opportunity to
highlight the service that Victim Support Merseyside offers, so that if anyone
affected by crime thinks restorative justice could be useful for them they know
how to access it."
Any person who has been affected by crime can contact Victim Support Merseyside
to see if restorative justice could work for them. It is a free, confidential
service. Victim Support Merseyside have trained facilitators who will discuss a
case with an individual, look at the options available and, if appropriate, work
with Police and other partners to make it happen.
Restorative justice is always voluntary and only takes place after an offender
has accepted responsibility for the crime, and both victim and offender have
agreed to take part. A trained facilitator also has to assess the case as
suitable. It is not designed to replace criminal proceedings.
Evidence shows that more than 85% of victims who have taken part in restorative
justice processes have come away feeling satisfied.
Victim Support Merseyside's Operations Manager Barbara Oakley said:- "As a
team we take great care to make sure that every individual using the restorative
justice service feels safe and secure at every stage. Restorative Justice is so
powerful and brings benefits for people that traditional criminal justice
proceedings can't, including feeling empowered and finding peace of mind."
Officers and PCSO's from Merseyside Police have also been trained to recognise
and identify when restorative justice could benefit a victim and are able to
highlight this service to victims when appropriate.
Anyone interested in finding out more or taking part in restorative justice
should contact Victim Support by calling:- (0151) 353 4003 or
emailing the RJ Team.
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Armed robbery at Londis
Store, Waterloo
MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives are
appealing for information after an armed robbery in Waterloo, on Friday, 17
November 2017, at around 6.40pm. We are told that Police received a call from a
member of staff, at the Londis Store, on St John's Road, Waterloo, that around 8
males had entered the location and made threats to staff. The group made demands
for money and a quantity of cash and cigarettes was taken. Nobody was injured in
the incident.
The the 8 male offenders are described were all, but 1 wearing facial coverings,
all were wearing tracksuits, with 1 in possession of a weapon described as a
pocket knife and possibly another male also holding a knife. It is believed that
the males left on foot in the direction of Lyra Road.
Forensic and CCTV enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and
identify those responsible.
Chief Inspector Dave Westby said:- "This was a cowardly attack on people
going about their business in the community. The members of staff were
thankfully unhurt but understandably visibly shaken to be threatened in this
way. I would appeal to anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area
yesterday to contact us immediately. There may be members of the public who were
passing in their vehicles and recorded dash cam footage of males close to the
shop or surrounding area, and any piece of information or footage, however
small, may be vital for our investigation. I want to reassure all residents and
businesses that incidents like this are rare and we will do everything possible
to identify the offenders and bring them to justice, and ensure that Waterloo
continues to be a safe place to live, work and visit."
Anyone with information is asked to call 101. You can also call the independent
charity Crimestoppers anonymously and for free on:- 0800 555 111 or
online.
Appeal for witnesses
Adam Ellison Murder
MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives
investigating the fatal stabbing of Adam Ellison, that happened on Saturday, 4
November 2017, are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.
We are told that Adam was reported to have
been walking along a pedestrianised area, in Market Place, Prescot, at 12.40am,
on Saturday, 4 November 2017, with friends, when he became involved in an
argument with people on a motorbike. During the incident he was stabbed in the
neck with an unknown weapon. He was taken to Hospital for surgery, but sadly
passed away that morning.
Detectives are still looking to trace the bike, believed to be a green Kawasaki
KX85 Big Wheel, or anyone who may have seen it being ridden around the Prescot
either before or after Adam was attacked. Officers also want to speak to three
females who it is believed were approached in the area by males on a similar
bike on the same evening.
They are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the Old Mill Public House, on
Mill Street, in Prescot, between 10pm and closing time, on the evening of
Friday, 3 November 2017, as it is believed they could also assist with the
investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector John Middleton said:- "We are currently
examining a number of lines of enquiry, but would continue to appeal for people
to come forward with any information they may have. Adam's family deserve
to have the answers to what happened to Adam that night. Any bit of information
may prove to be vital to helping us get those answers. The bike was very
distinctive and I am sure that somebody would recognise it or has seen it been
ridden around the Prescot area in the past few weeks and months. We also know
that the Old Mill Public House would have been really busy on that Friday night.
People who were in the pub may have information which could assist us and I
would ask them to get in touch."
Anyone with information is asked to contact
Merseyside Police's Major Crime Unit on:- 0151 777 8618 or the Crimestoppers
line anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.
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High visibility Policing
over Festive Period HIGH visibility Police Officers will be
patrolling the City Centre during the festive period as part of an ongoing
reassurance operation. Officers from the Mounted Police Section, together with
Armed Response Officers, Constables and Police community support Officers (PCSO's)
will be visible around the Christmas attractions, including the markets, as part
of Operation Exemplar, a new, highly visible tactic used to tackle all forms of
criminality, including terrorism, whilst engaging with the public to encourage
them to report suspicious activity. Superintendent Mark Wiggins said:-
"Visitors to the City can expect to see more high visibility Policing within the
City Centre, in the run up to Christmas. This is not in response to any direct
threat but just to ensure visitors to the City Centre feel reassured that they
can go about their business and enjoy the festive attractions that the City has
got to offer. Most major Police Forces in the UK will be deploying their staff
in a similar fashion and we know when this has been done on Merseyside on
previous occasions we have received positive feedback from the public. Where and
when we deploy to is designed to be unpredictable and show that we can turn up
in a location anytime so it sends a strong message to criminals intent on
causing harm that they should think again or risk being caught. The public have
a big part to play in helping us gather the information we need to tackle all
types of crime, from pick pocketing to terrorism and Operation Exemplar is a
vital way of getting that message across. I would encourage people to engage
with our staff when they see them and feel confident to raise any concerns they
may have so that we can address them."
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