Restorative justice on agenda

Fresh efforts to stop criminals reoffending have been promised by the Department of Home Affairs' new rehabilitation chief.

Geraldine Martin has been appointed Head of Community Rehabilitation, with a brief to reduce levels of reoffending and ensure victims of crime have a voice in the Island's criminal justice system.

Ms Martin has held a senior role at Lancashire Probation Trust for 20 years.

She's an advocate of restorative justice - the system which brings offenders face-to-face with their victim.

Ms Martin hopes to see the scheme, which has been piloted in the Manx courts, firmly established.

She says it can be a powerful tool: