Prime-time coverage for restorative justice in ITV's Meeting My Enemy

Restorative justice received in-depth coverage in ITV’s Meeting My Enemy tonight.

Filmed over a two-year period, the programme followed the stories of offenders and victims in two separate cases, exploring what happened when they came face to face through restorative justice.

Joan Scourfield and David Hodgkinson’s 28 year old son James was killed by a single punch while on a night out in Nottingham. The perpetrator, Jacob Dunne, was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to 30 months in prison, serving 14 before his release.

Upon Jacob’s release last year, Joan and David decided to take part in a restorative justice process and meet their son’s killer. They saw it as an opportunity to ask the questions that no one had been able to provide answers for.

The process has had a profound impact on both parties. Jacob is now studying for a degree in criminology, encouraged by letters from Joan and David, and they have even shared a meal to discuss a campaign to prevent similar killings.

The programme also featured 93-year-old Irene Hearn and her daughter Sandra, whose house was broken into by Callum McGowan while they were at home. After meeting Sandra in a restorative justice meeting, Callum wrote to Irene to apologise.

Jon Collins, the RJC’s chief executive officer, said: “It’s good to see restorative justice being brought to a wider audience in ITV’s Meeting My Enemy. The programme highlighted the great work being done by organisations like Remedi and Restorative Solutions, and we’re very pleased that it’s getting the attention it deserves.

“Our polling, conducted by Ipsos Mori, shows that the public are overwhelmingly in favour (77%) of restorative justice when it is explained to them, but that they are also too often unaware of what it is.

“Stories like Joan and David’s clearly demonstrate why restorative justice can be so beneficial to those affected by a crime, and equally, the role it can play in the rehabilitation of an offender. Congratulations to everyone who was involved in all the work that was featured on the programme.”

Further information on restorative justice is available here.

Watch the episode here.