Restorative Justice
In 2016 a High Court order was issued following the Restorative Justice outcome with the family of Cherry Groce. The Foundation embodies a legacy of resilience and justice. Central to its mission are the principles of Restorative Justice and violence reduction, with a significant focus on fostering positive community relations bridging the gap between institutions such as the MPS and our communties.
Restorative Justice brings those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward. This is part of a wider field called restorative practice.
The three pillars of Restorative Justice are:
Encounter: Harms and Needs. Restorative Justice understands crime as harm done to people and communities. ...
Repair: Obligations. Restorative Justice holds that harm results in obligations. ...
Transform: Engagement.
Through lived experience, in 2014, an inquest began into Cherry Groce's death. Although the application for legal aid was denied, the family obtained over 133,000 signatures from the public to support the decision being overturned. This led to legal aid being granted. The family campaigned to obtain justice, successfully receiving a full public apology and accountability by the Metropolitan Police.
As a result, a High Court Order was sealed in 2016 following a mediation process which has started to be fulfilled today and is planned for the future.
You can see examples of a community that stood together at the Memorial. There are also extracts from students' letters to Lee Lawrence the son of Cherry Groce, following their involvement in "The Louder I Will Sing" programme.
We endeavor to continue to be Restorative Justice Advocates and with future funding plan to assist individual who would like to go through the process.
