Police join forces with Theatre Royal Plymouth to support victims of crime
As an award-winning play comes to the Theatre Royal Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall Police are proud to be working with the theatre and partners to bring attention to the impact that restorative justice can have on victims and offenders.
PUNCH is inspired by real life events and tells the story of a young man whose life is changed after a single act of violence leads to a death. After serving prison time, he becomes involved in a restorative justice (RJ) process with the victim’s parents.
RJ is a voluntary, victim-led process that runs alongside the criminal justice system and enables the harm and pain caused by crime to be addressed with the help of a facilitator. The process requires offenders to accept responsibility for their actions and has the potential to reduce offending by up to 27%.
During the play’s run, Devon & Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit and Make Amends, the commissioned RJ service for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, will be in the foyer pre- and post-show at every performance, to provide support, answer questions about RJ and raise awareness of the help that is available locally.
After Wednesday’s performance, there will be a panel discussion featuring cast members, local RJ providers, Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, and victims from Devon and Cornwall who have participated in RJ.
Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan QPM said: “The performing arts is an engaging way to deliver important messages and start conversations about things that are important to us. PUNCH shines a spotlight on the tragic impact of one-punch attacks and demonstrates how restorative justice can work.
“There is no time limit for when people can seek restorative justice or restriction on the type of crime involved, so I encourage people to reach out to our Victim Care Unit for help and support.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “RJ is incredibly empowering because it gives victims and their families an opportunity to hold offenders to account and help them understand the harm their actions have caused.
“The liberating process is done in a safe and controlled environment in a variety of ways such as writing a letter, face-to-face and video conferencing. RJ has proven time and time again to give victims closure and stop offenders doing it again which is why my office funds Make Amends, the only RJ service for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“I would urge any victim of crime, whether it has been reported to the police or not, to contact the Victim Care Unit of Devon & Cornwall Police to find out more about how RJ could help them with their recovery journey.”
Kadus Smith, Director of Public Engagement at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: "We’re delighted to be working with Devon & Cornwall Police as part of the PUNCH wraparound activity. This collaboration allows us to engage audiences in a deeper, more meaningful way, while supporting the High Sheriff’s focus on restorative justice and TRP’s commitment to strong civic partnerships."
If you would like to find out more about the restorative justice process, you can find out more on the Make Amends website: shekinah.co.uk/make-amends
Experiencing a crime can be daunting and overwhelming. Visit victimcare-dc.org to find out more about support available locally.
ENDS