Devon police officer backs restorative justice after offender drove at him
PC Lewis Small has spoken about the moment someone tried to run him over in a car
A Devon police officer has spoken about what went through his mind the moment someone tried to run him over AND why he decided to meet the perpetrator afterwards.
PC Lewis Small was called to reports of anti-social driving in South Devon when it happened - and says the thought of his pregnant wife flashed before his eyes.
He's been telling us his story, as part of International Restorative Justice Week, saying that meeting the offender helped him move on.
PC Lewis Small had recently transferred from London to work for Devon and Cornwall Police. He was on a late shift one evening when he and his partner were called out to reports of antisocial driving in a South Devon town.
PC Small said: “It was a pretty mundane call, someone doing donuts in their 4x4 car – shouting, skidding and revving the engine.
“As we arrived, the vehicle has seen us and sped off. It’s then realised it was in a cul-de-sac then reversed back out so we are facing each other.
“I shouted ‘stop, get out of the car’. The engine’s revving and he’s then just floored it straight at me. I had to jump out of the way behind the police car.”
Other officers ended up pursuing the car and eventually arresting the offender after he crashed into a wall.
PC Small said the incident had a big effect on his personal life, particularly as he and his wife had just found out they were expecting their first child.
He said: “It scared me a bit initially. I thought I’ve got to look after my kid now and I can’t do that if I’m going to be knocked over and killed by someone at work. All those little things were going through my head.”
The driver was prosecuted and sentenced to four years in prison. PC Small was contacted by Make Amends who offered him the chance to meet the driver in prison.
Despite being sceptical about the process, he agreed to take part and met with his harmer in prison.
He said: “I clocked eyes with him, he stood up and we shook hands straight away. I thought just for him coming to that meeting and admitting he was in the wrong and that he’s sorry, I thought that was a pretty big step so I decided to shake his hand straight away.
“We’re two blokes. We’re the same age, we’ve just gone down different routes.
“By us having that moment together and him saying sorry, I genuinely believe he meant it. It gave me a bit of closure.”
PC Small said he would recommend the process to anyone, but particularly to police officers.
He said: "Just give it a chance, especially if it’s something that has affected you or people around you, your family.
“I think I was quite lucky at the time that he was so adamant he had to say sorry, it really meant something.
“Now it’s all done and dusted. We even said we’d take each other out for a pint.”
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is responsible for commissioning victim’s services including the Restorative Justice service from Make Amends.
Commissioner Hernandez said: “Restorative Justice is an absolutely vital tool in the criminal justice system and we need more people to take up the opportunity to get involved. You can do this at any point during the process.
“It offers a really important service to the victim of crime who has been through an extremely traumatic experience and may have many questions running through their mind which, usually, they may not get the chance to pose to their harmer.
“This process gives them those answers and, as both our examples here have testified, allows them to get some closure on the incident and move on with their life.
“Similarly, the process is also extremely useful for the person who has committed the offence. It allows their actions to be humanised. It helps them understand the implications of what they have done and the consequences they have on other people.
“The process through Make Amends is extremely well administered, with patience and understanding from everyone involved. I can’t praise this service highly enough and would recommend it to anyone thinking about going through the process.”
Restorative Justice: Would you shake the hand of a man who tried to run you over?
Lucy Evans, Service Manager at Make Amends, said: “Restorative Justice creates opportunities for those affected by crime, conflict, and anti-social behaviour to come together into communication with those who are responsible for the harm. The process aims to help everyone move on.
“Restorative Justice can be applied to all crime types, not just low-level crime, but those cases of a serious and violent nature. The process gives those harmed a voice, a sense of empowerment and feelings of inclusion in their case as well as reducing the symptoms of trauma."
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