As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, we want to emphasise the transformative impact that the Immediate Justice Scheme can have on reducing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour.
The rise in anti-social behaviour (ASB) has long been a concern for communities, prompting Local Authorities, Police Forces and PCC’s across the country to seek effective ways to address the root cause.
What is Immediate Justice?
Immediate Justice (IJ) is a form of community-based reparation offering individuals who have engaged in ASB—both adults and young people—an opportunity to engage in activities that directly benefit the community. Instead of, or alongside, alternative penalties such as court disposals or punishment, through engaging with Immediate Justice (IJ).
IJ requires people who offend to undertake reparative work, such as cleaning up public spaces, graffiti removal, repairing damaged community property or volunteering at local charitable organisations. The swift approach of IJ allows offending people to truly confront the consequences of their actions while making amends, which, in turn, contributes to the overall well-being of communities.
Which principles do RSMS use to deliver IJ?
Implemented into the core of RSMS Immediate Justice project delivery, is the application of restorative and reparative principles. These principles are grounded in the well-recognised understanding that crime harms not only the direct victim but also the wider community, and that the offending person that takes responsibility for their actions, can access a means to repair harm.
How does IJ support crime reduction?
The IJ scheme continues to demonstrate an effective strategy for reducing anti-social behaviour and encouraging pro-social behaviour. Offending people, especially youths, who may not have fully understood the impact of their actions, are presented with tangible ways to make amends. By seeing the impact of their offending on wider communities, who are at large the most significantly impacted by ASB, helps them to reconnect with their communities positively. This process fosters a sense of responsibility, belonging and accountability.
Research continues to build a more holistic picture of the restoration and repair that can be achieved through IJ, highlighting that reparative and restorative justice can reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
When individuals are faced with the immediate consequences of their actions and are subsequently tasked with repairing the harm caused, they are less likely to engage in further ASB. The restorative aspect of IJ helps to challenge and develop the offending person’s perception of their behaviour, encouraging personal growth and empathy.
How does IJ impact communities?
At RSMS, we have seen that Immediate Justice benefits not just the offending person but also the communities affected by ASB. Communities that may have previously felt alienated or neglected due to the harm caused by ASB can see visible improvements and actions taken through the reparation. Immediate Justice sends a clearer message to communities that their concerns are being heard, and action is being taken to prevent and divert further offending in their local area.
With the focus of IJ being on rehabilitation, prevention and diversion, it aligns with a broader ethos of community cohesion. This has the potential to strengthen social bonds between residents of communities and their local authorities and police forces. It promotes a sense of collective responsibility, and showcases a clear intent to prevent future harm.
East Grinstead
An individual was caught in possession of cannabis and referred to Immediate Justice (IJ) to complete a reparative activity and was asked to help move wooden pallets in order to build the East Grinstead Bonfire for later in the year.
The individual arrived promptly for their reparative session and engaged positively with the task and other residents working on the build. The activity was very labour intensive, transporting heavy pallets across a field in the rain, and the individual felt a great sense of pride at the end of the activity seeing the work they’d contributed to the build. They also expressed an interest in returning to East Grinstead for the bonfire event as they felt proud of being part of the team to build it.
The bonfire took place on 19th October 2024 and was a great success with East Grinstead locals. East Grinstead Bonfire Chairman, Terry Deadman said:
‘The main aims of East Grinstead Community Bonfire as a group of volunteers is to supply a free annual event to the community of East Grinstead, fundraise to support at least two different small local charities in our area and try to bring additional business to our local traders.
‘When we were contacted by Immediate Justice, we read that their aims are to offer unpaid work in the community as a form of reparation and as this could be by helping local community groups, we felt it was a great opportunity for us to offer our assistance.
‘The person we had to help us move the 500 pallets, which were used to build our bonfire, along with his supervisor, really got involved, he was a great help to us on the day.
‘He should feel really proud of what he helped us to achieve, in the short time we had available, in appalling weather. He was a willing worker and our event was a great success, which was enjoyed by a huge number of people from the community of East Grinstead.’
Case Study extract from Sussex PCC Article on RSMS Immediate Justice
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What is the role of Immediate Justice in Youth Offending?
For young people engaging in ASB, Immediate Justice (IJ) is particularly valuable as it provides an alternative to more traditional punitive measures. These early interventions can encourage positive, pro-social behaviour change that can have a lasting impact. By using Immediate Justice (IJ) as a tool for engaging young people in their communities, we teach them about responsibility. This not only helps in tackling anti-social behaviour but also provides young people with the skills and experiences needed to make positive life choices. Reparative and restorative justice offers young people a belonging and accountability, crucial parts of adolescent development.
Overall, Immediate Justice (IJ) stands as a key strategy in the collaborative efforts to fight against anti-social behaviour. Achieved through repairing the harm caused, offering a chance to make amends, encouraging accountability and meaningful reparative activities. Immediate Justice (IJ) not only helps to reduce and reshape ASB at a community level, but opens a positive pathway of reintegration into communities.
During Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, RSMS want to recognise the effectiveness of Immediate Justice (IJ) in helping both adults and youths to confront their actions and contribute meaningfully to society. In doing so, we can create safer, more cohesive communities while offering individuals opportunities for change and rehabilitation.
Lilly Waters
IJ Operations Manager
