West Midlands Police restorative justice scheme wins £500k
A West Midlands Police project that brings victims of crime and offenders face-to-face has been awarded a £500,000 grant.
The funding from central government will support the force's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) restorative justice scheme.
PCC Bob Jones said the approach was "very effective" in supporting victims and preventing reoffending.
The force's scheme has been running in Birmingham since May 2012.
It is now due to be rolled out across the rest of the force area.
Sgt Tom Joyce said the approach allowed victims to ask questions of the offender and explain how the crime had affected them.
He said offenders often "face punishment for crimes without ever understanding the deeply personal impact of their actions".