Survivor hopes Restorative Justice will help her reclaim sense of control and empowerment over man who raped her

A survivor from Merseyside is hoping that coming face to face with the man who raped her will allow her to take back a sense of power over her attacker to find a positive way to move forward with her life.

The victim, who will remain anonymous, is sharing her story to mark Restorative Justice Week (November 17th-23rd), an international campaign reflecting on the progress of victims and offenders and their journey to recovery and rehabilitation.

Commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell, the Restorative Justice service in Merseyside is delivered by Restorative Solutions, who have been offering victims in Merseyside the chance to seek answers from those who have harmed them since 2018.

By bringing victims and offenders together, in a safe environment, they can tell one another their account of an incident with the aim of putting victims back in control, whilst ensuring offenders understand the consequences of their actions by helping them to take responsibility for what they’ve done to stop reoffending and allow both individuals a chance to move on with their lives.

Restorative Justice can be used for any type of crime and at any stage of the criminal justice system, including alongside a prison sentence. It is entirely voluntary, and both victim and offender must agree to take part for any meeting to take place and can withdraw from the process at any point.

In this case, the victim self-referred to Restorative Solutions following discussions with her Probation Service Victim Liaison Officer. She had initially reported a non-recent rape case upon learning that the offender had committed the same crime again.

Following court proceedings, the offender was sentenced.

During an initial meeting with Restorative Solutions at her home, the victim described how the devastating impact on her personal life and how, prior to reporting him to police, she encountered the offender several times in unavoidable circumstances, including a particularly distressing moment during her pregnancy, which caused her significant trauma.

Now, as he approaches parole, the victim has expressed a desire to meet him on her terms and engage in a conversation, saying she hopes that the process will help her reclaim a sense of control and empowerment, lessening her fear of possibly encountering him again.

Following this meeting, Restorative Solutions contacted HM Prison and Probation Service, and after detailed consultation, it was agreed that the offender had undergone sufficient rehabilitation for him to be approached to discuss Restorative Justice.

The offender said he was open and receptive to the idea of participating in a face-to-face restorative justice meeting with the victim, demonstrating a readiness to discuss what happened, answering her questions, whilst reflecting on the past and his plans moving forward.

Upon hearing the news that the meeting was likely to proceed, the victim said she was surprised at the offender's willingness to participate but felt reassured and pleased at the prospect of this opportunity, she said: “Thank you so much for doing this for me, and if it does end here I am just so grateful that you have been able to give me this opportunity.”

The offender also expressed his commitment to respect the victim’s boundaries and his intention to move away from the area upon his release, he said: “I thought you would come in here and be judgemental with a preconception of me but you have been understanding and given me the opportunity to speak and tell you where I am in my journey, I cannot thank you enough for that it makes me feel better about taking part in process.”

Cases of this nature require careful, and sometimes lengthy, preparation for all parties. At the time of writing that preparation work continues, and both victim and offender remain willing to meet in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, both feel that the work they have done with Restorative Solutions so far has been of help to them.

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “This is a particularly powerful account of one victim’s journey to recovery. The trauma and the negative repercussions that follow a crime such as this can affect an individual for a very long time.

“What once felt normal no longer feels safe and while the criminal justice process deals with the offence, the victim can be left with a lack of answers, struggling to cope with what they have experienced.

“Restorative Justice gives them a chance to explain the true impacts of crime to the offender, asking them directly for the answers they need to allow them to restore control.

“By also holding offenders to account, Restorative Justice can play a crucial role in their rehabilitation by helping them to take responsibility for their actions, reducing the likelihood of them ending up back before the courts.

“Improving outcomes for victims is a crucial priority for me, and this is a further example of the vital work Restorative Solutions are doing to support vulnerable people across Merseyside in their journey to recovery and rehabilitation.”

Anthony Hilton, Merseyside Service Delivery Manager at Restorative Solutions said: “Restorative Solutions are delighted that the PCC for Merseyside, together with the North West Probation Service, commission us to deliver this service, enabling us to bring together victims and offenders, to discuss the harm that was caused, in a safe, non-judgemental way, thereby creating an environment where sensitive issues can be discussed openly and honestly.”

As part of her commitment to ensuring victims are fully supported, Emily last week relaunched the region’s Restorative Justice Steering Group. Chaired by Deputy PCC, Jeanie Bell, the session brought together partners from the Probation Service, Youth Offending Services, Merseyside Police, Victim Care Merseyside, Sycamore Tree, Magistra and Chaplains from HMP Altcourse and HMP Liverpool.

If you have been affected by crime, Victim Care Merseyside can help. Their local, trained staff can offer you free, confidential, non-judgemental advice and support. For advice and support, call Freephone 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm or request support anytime online at www.victimcaremerseyside.org