Attorney General backs North Down´s restorative justice

ATTORNEY General Baroness Scotland gave a heartfelt ´thank you´ to North Down Alternatives for their ongoing work within the community, last week.

The government´s chief legal advisor officially opened the new premises of the local community restorative justice group last Thursday (25th) afternoon.

Baroness Scotland was joined by North Down MP Sylvia Hermon and North Down Alternatives staff as she unveiled a plaque at the new Kilcooley Square premises in Bangor.

Representatives from the Youth Justice Agency, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), the PSNI, the Probation Service, Include Youth and the Department of Social Development (DSD) were also among the invited guests.

Baroness Scotland said, "It is a huge privilege for me to come and be with you today. Mediation and bringing people together is extremely important and restoring some of the hurt caused."

The advocates of community restorative justice schemes believe they provide a positive alternative to paramilitary beatings and attacks.

The North Down Alternatives group, previously called North Down Impact, has been working in the borough for over seven years, and comes under the Northern Ireland Alternatives umbrella. 

The scheme follows the Northern Ireland Office protocols of restorative justice, which include enabling victims to meet offenders. They can also enter into reparation contracts, and might be asked to provide either an apology, financial compensation or carry out work in the community.