The Co-op Secure Response team has partnered with Suffolk County Council Youth Offending Service and their partners to show people aged 18 and under the consequences of their behaviour on a one-to-one restorative justice programme.
According to a recent survey conducted by Co-op Secure Response, over two-fifths of Suffolk-based businesses have experienced anti-social behaviour in the past year. Recognising the level of concern across the region, Co-op Secure Response has been working to reduce anti-social behaviour in Suffolk through a restorative justice programme. Since the participants’ completion of the programme, Suffolk Constabulary has reported that only one of the 15 young people went on to re-offend in the following three months.
Scott explains the programme structure: “We start the programme by sitting down with the young person and their Support Worker in a calming, neutral environment that allows us to get to know one another. Once the participant has been put at ease, we talk about the East of England Co-op and its ethical values as well as different departments in the business.”
Following an introduction, Scott talks to the young person about the offence that they have committed, often showing them CCTV footage of their crime.
“This is a key part of the process as it allows the participant to reflect on their actions and really get to grips with the repercussions of their offence. Each person responds differently to this stage in the programme, but they all have an opportunity to empathise with the colleagues that either witnessed their offence or were affected by it.”
The young person is then shown Co-op Secure Response’s state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm receiving centre (ARC). Entirely self-sufficient, with its own servers and power supplies, the ARC monitors over 6,000 CCTV cameras, as well as GPS tracking devices, lone workers, alarms and gates.
“The participant is often very interested in the technology that supports our team. Their eyes light up when they see the ARC for the first time and they have lots of questions about how it all works.”
The programme will finish with an opportunity to discuss the participant’s future and potential career paths.
“We want to help the young person realise that they can have a career that they are passionate about if they work hard and remain on the right side of the law. We talk through their interests and see if there are any departments within the East of England Co-op that they can chat to, or even receive internal training from, to help kick-start a career.”
The East of England Co-op has provided two young people with job opportunities in its stores, one of the young people is still working in the business as a Customer Support Assistant. Co-op Secure Response also works closely with the prison service giving prisoners the opportunity to gain experience and new skills to allow for settlement into the community.
Scott reflects: “Our restorative justice course has been held in high regard by the court’s services, and we have actually given talks across Britain. It is very rewarding to work on a programme that provides value to the participants, as well as to local communities which benefit from a lower level of anti-social behaviour.”
Co-op Secure Response has teamed up with Suffolk Council, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Suffolk Constabulary to provide a conference on anti-social behaviour for local businesses at Wherstead Park on 29th January 2019.
www.secureresponse.coop/booktoday
