As part of Restorative Justice Week 2024, we would like to share the experience of Katy, a Police Officer who was assaulted whilst on duty. Read on to learn more about the impact that Restorative Justice had on Katy’s ability to move on from the incident, and how it can help victims and offenders alike.
About two years ago, during a routine shift, I was assaulted while responding to an incident involving a person suspected of public order offences. Without warning, the individual attacked me from behind as I was managing others at the scene. When I turned to confront them, they struck me again, resulting in a broken hand. This injury kept me off work for an extended period, prompting me to reflect on what happened—was there something I could have done differently to protect myself?
With 16 years in policing, I’ve sustained injuries before, but this was the most severe, affecting me both physically and mentally. During my recovery, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Restorative Justice (RJ) process. While I hadn’t previously used RJ myself, I knew it was available to all victims under the Victims Code of Practice (VCOP).
I decided to engage with RJ because I wanted to understand what motivated the offender’s actions. After speaking with the team at Resolve West, I learned more about the process, which is voluntary for both the victim and offender. The offender in my case had already agreed to participate.
Resolve West’s RJ practitioners are highly trained, and there are several ways to communicate with the offender—whether through face-to-face meetings, letters of apology, or shuttle mediation, where practitioners relay questions between the parties. In my case, we met in a neutral setting with the support of RJ practitioners. Both the offender and I shared our perspectives on the incident and its impact.
The meeting was powerful. It allowed me to see the incident from the offender’s point of view, and for them to understand how their actions affected me. They also realised that their behaviour had led to their own arrest and diverted attention from other crimes. It helped me reflect that, more often than not, people don’t call the police because they’re having a good day.
Participating in RJ helped me move past the incident, and most importantly, it made me feel heard and seen. The offender reconsidered their actions, which was a step toward personal accountability.
I encourage any officer to consider RJ. It offers a voice and an opportunity for healing, but it’s important to remember that it is not an alternative to conviction—it’s an additional option.