Plans to turn Portsmouth into '˜restorative city'

Portsmouth Mediation Service (PMS) has already trained members of the Christian community and late last month held a conference at the Jami Mosque.

The scheme is part of the service’s plan to turn Portsmouth into a ‘restorative city’ and help resolve disputes, and bring victims and criminal offenders together.

The conference on January 29 comes after the service marked its 20th anniversary.

Steve Rolls, from the service, said: ‘We believe this project will help promote greater awareness of resolving conflict through Restorative Pathways.

‘It will help identify opportunities to train and equip people of faith to become restorative justice facilitators and highlight the opportunities for people of faith to volunteer their skills outside of their religious setting.

‘Also importantly, it will provide the chance for people of different faiths and none to work together for a restorative Portsmouth.’

Mr Rolls said he hopes to hold conferences for each faith group.

‘Our vision for this project is to initially host a conference for each of the main faith groups in Portsmouth,’ he added.

‘Last year we hosted a conference for Christians in Portsmouth and now we are very excited with this forthcoming event with our Muslim friends.’

Separately, Portsmouth saw the launch of Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane’s £300,000-a-year restorative justice scheme.

Muhammad Uddin, imam of the Jami Mosque, said: ‘I have recently trained as a restorative justice facilitator, the new skills I have gained will help me in my role. I am very excited to see our wider community have this opportunity to explore the benefits of a restorative approach.’

The Restorative Justice Council recognised the efforts by PMS by handing it the Restorative Service Quality Mark.

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