The restorative justice team with Cambridgeshire Police has been named runners up during a national charity award ceremony.

They were short listed in the community award category by the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Restorative Justice (RJ) was launched in the county in 2010 and revamped last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Dominic Human said: “I am thrilled that the Howard League has recognised the achievements in Cambridgeshire.

“This will help us raise awareness of the benefits of engaging with RJ.

“The process puts victims at the centre of the criminal justice systems and can prove invaluable to helping people move on.”

Last year, 1331 community resolutions were used by the force and there were 100 RJ referrals.

Jason Ablewhite, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “RJ can make a real difference to the lives of those who choose to get involved and for offenders, it can help motivate them to change their lives for the better.

“It is not a soft option for offenders but helps bring crimes to life: that crime is now a person and their life has been changed forever as a result of the actions the offender has taken.

“I am more than proud to see Cambridgeshire’s joint approach to restorative justice and community resolution recognised at national level.”

Restorative Justice allows victims the chance to meet offenders in a controlled and safe environment to talk about the harm that has been caused and find a way to repair that harm.

The process is open to all victims of crime.

For victims it allows them to have their say and helps them to move on with their lives.

For offenders, it helps them recognise the impact of what they have done.

In Cambridgeshire it is run by a multi-agency hub funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner through the Ministry of Justice Victims’ Services Grant.

The service is supported by a not for profit community interest company, Restorative Solutions.