VICTIMS are set to be given a say in how offenders are dealt with after Lancas-hire’s Police and Crime Commissioner unveiled final plans for the co-unty’s community remedy.

The move means offenders who commit certain types of low-level crime or anti-social behaviour could be asked to apologise to their victim, undertake a course to address their behaviour or repair the damage they have caused.

The following six options have been agreed with the county’s Chief Constable for use in Lancashire, with the offender:

  • Apologising to the victim either face-to-face or through a letter.
  • Meeting the victim face-to-face through a Restorative Justice process, which gives the victim the opportunity to explain the impact the crime has had on them.
  • Participating in a structured activity or course to address offending behaviour, issues such as substance abuse and to reduce the like-lihood of re-offending. Where the offender is a young person, parental involvement may also be an option.
  • Paying compensation to the victim.
  • Undertaking reparation work directly to the victim to repair any damage caused.
  • Carrying out reparation work in the community, which could include a community project suggested by the victim.

Clive Grunshaw said: “One of my key commitments is to empower victims. I don’t want them to feel isolated from the process of deal-ing with offenders.

“I want them to have the opport-unity to be part of it.

“I also want to reduce re-offending levels. It is an approach I hope will have a positive impact on the victim and the offender.”

Tim Ewen, head of criminal justice for Lancashire Const-abulary, said: "We are fully supportive of this approach.”

The remedies will only be used when the offender accepts they are responsible for the offence and both the victim and offender agree a community remedy is appropriate.