Beyond prison numbers: Why restorative justice matters
A University of Gloucestershire professor is calling on Andy Burnham to put restorative justice at the heart of a prison policy to reduce reoffending, prevent further victims of crime and create safer communities.
The new Prime Minister’s arrival in Downing Street and Lord Timpson’s departure as Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending come at a significant time for the criminal justice system, with provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 due to take effect this autumn amid public criticism.
The Sentencing Act 2026 overhauls sentencing and early release frameworks to ease the chronic pressure on the prison estate, with three-quarters of prisons in England and Wales overcrowded.
But the Government announced today that the most serious and dangerous offenders, including murderers, rapists and child sexual abusers, will be excluded from early release, following widespread criticism.
Professor Jon Hobson (pictured below), an expert in restorative justice, said debate about prisons too often focuses on the number of cells available, the size of the prison population and the number of people being released.
The Professor of Social Sciences believes the success of prison policy should instead be judged by whether it prevents further offending and reduces the number of future victims of crime.
Professor Hobson said: “The question that should sit at the centre of prison policy is not how many cells we have, but how many people come back through the gates and how many new victims are created because we haven’t dealt with the challenges of dealing with those imprisoned effectively.
“That is where restorative justice earns its place in the conversation, not just in the UK, but all around the world. It brings those responsible for harm into contact with its consequences and with the people affected. In the UK it is often done alongside, not instead of, prison sentences.
“Done well, it holds people to account in a way a prison sentence rarely does. Importantly, it also offers victims something the courts often cannot: answers, acknowledgement, and a genuine say in what repair looks like.”
Professor Hobson pointed to studies carried out by University of Gloucestershire contributing to the substantial body evidence showing how restorative justice can lower offending rates and provide higher victim satisfaction. Partners in the ongoing research have included the Ministry of Justice, the HM Prison and Probation Service, the Metropolitan Police and the Restorative Justice Council.
Through its contribution to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Restorative Justice, the University examined the application of restorative approaches in areas including criminal justice, education, health and social care and housing.
The University also leads an international network involving Ireland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Finland, exploring how prison and probation systems build restorative practice into the way they operate.
Professor Hobson said: “The jurisdictions making real progress treat restorative justice not as an optional add-on but embedded as part of the culture of the system.
“Restorative practice can help organisations address conflict and harm earlier, strengthen relationships and prevent problems from escalating. Its relevance therefore extends far beyond prisons and the criminal justice system.”
Professor Hobson hopes that Andy Burnham’s approach to restorative justice and providing victims with a voice, notably as a champion of the ‘Hillsborough Law’, continues in his role as Prime Minister.
He said: “Andy Burnham has spent years arguing for prevention over reaction, for tackling the causes of harm rather than managing its symptoms, and for building resilience in communities rather than responding once things have gone wrong.
“Restorative justice does just that, asking how we reduce harm, create routes away from repeated offending, and support victims with what they need. It sits naturally alongside the prevention-first thinking already taking hold across policing, health and local government.
“Restorative justice is not a cure-all, it will not empty a prison, fix an overcrowded estate or reduce reoffending on its own. But it speaks directly to the question a new government should be asking. If the aim is fewer victims and safer communities, are we spending enough time on what stops crime from happening again?”