10 years of the ERMS - Case study: Resolution reached after school prank leads to surgery

This year, the Essex Restorative and Mediation Service is celebrating ten successful years of supporting people and businesses in the county.

The Essex Restorative and Mediation Service launched in April 2015 to compliment the work of organisations such as the police and Victim Support, giving those affected an opportunity to meet or communicate with those who have caused them harm.

Both parties – who volunteer to take part - discuss next steps and the perpetrators can make amends. Victims are given the chance to explain the impact the crime or conflict has had on them, ask questions of the perpetrator and seek an apology.

The service puts a face to the victim and encourages the perpetrator to give deeper thought to what they have done and the impact their actions have had, not just on the victim but also their families.

In the run-up to a celebration event in November, we are featuring case studies in which the ERMS has helped both parties. Names have been changed in the following case study.

Case study

A school prank left a young boy needing painful surgery and having angry outbursts.

After being tripped over on purpose in the school corridor, Mike* needed an operation to insert metal plates into his broken forearm.

With the police involved, an opportunity was given for Mike to work with perpetrator Liam* and the Essex Restorative and Mediation Service to bring closure to the prank which had gone wrong.

Mike and Liam, along with their parents, agreed to meet face to face as an opportunity to both share their thoughts and views on the incident.

With Mike left fearing he would lose the strength in his arm – having previously broken it just six months before – and having angry outbursts, he was keen to explain to Liam how a simple “joke” had had a lasting impact on him and his family, and to receive an apology.

For Liam, it was an opportunity to apologise and bring about some forgiveness for himself for the harm he had caused.

The boys shook hands at the end of the meeting and Liam wrote a letter apologising again and promising changed behaviour in future.

Emma Goddard, ERMS manager, said: “This case really shows the benefit of bringing people together after harm has been caused, even when the harm was unintentional. It enabled both of the boys to understand the other, reduce feelings of shame and create better futures.”

PFCC Roger Hirst said: “Mike and Liam’s story is another example of how the restorative process can repair the harm that has been caused. Sometimes, harmers feel so much guilt over what happened, they forget to forgive themselves for what happened and the only person who can help them towards forgiving themselves is the victim.”

To mark ten years since the start of the service, a birthday party is to be held in November – during International Restorative Justice Week – where 100 people will come together to hear from guest speakers about the importance of restorative justice and mediation.

Visit restorativeessex.co.uk