Community Remedy

The Community Remedy

The aim of Community Remedy is to improve local involvement in the accountability of those who commit low-level crime and anti-social behaviour, giving local people the option to have a say in how offenders should face up to their actions and make amends.    

Along with the local police, victims and local residents are able to influence what sort of out of court disposal those who commit anti-social behaviour, low-level theft, criminal damage and some drug and alcohol offences receive. 

Where did it come from?

The Community Remedy was introduced as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Police and Crime Commissioner for each local policing area is required to consult with the police, the local authority, voluntary groups and other interested community representatives on what should be included as a remedy. Once the consultation is concluded, the results are taken into account when determining what options should be available.

Out of Court Outcomes:

When deciding on any conditions that may be attached to an out of court disposal, the victim must be given an opportunity to review a list of Community Remedy options and give their view on any they feel are appropriate. 

Where both the victim and offender agree, this will then be considered by the Police when deciding on appropriate conditions.  

The process is about taking a common sense approach to tackling low-level crime and disorder and giving the public confidence that out-of-court disposals are a workable, sometimes more beneficial, alternative to court.

The PCC Consultation:

The Kent Police Crime & Commissioner undertook a public consultation on the Community Remedy in his Annual Police and Crime Plan Survey 2023. 

You can find the responses here:

Public consultations (kent-pcc.gov.uk)