New Mediation service announced by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner
Matthew Barber announced the measures which aim to prevent the escalation of anti-social behaviour across Oxfordshire.
Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, has announced the launch of a dedicated anti-social behaviour (ASB) mediation service, which will be available to all communities across the Thames Valley.
The aim of the mediation service is to prevent the escalation of anti-social behaviour by making mediation more widely accessible to our communities.
It will be a confidential, informal process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, with individuals able to self-refer or possibly be offered a referral by officers.
That's things like clashes involving noise, parking, pets and boundaries. These can often lead to challenging and offensive behaviours. These can be distressing for those involved but also Matthew Barber says, divert police resources away from preventing serious crimes.
Announcing the service, Mr Barber said: “Mediation helps to resolve neighbour and community disputes that, if left, can escalate and cause significant harm and distress.
“Often these disputes don’t meet the criminal threshold and can’t be resolved by one agency alone. However, we know from pilot programmes in the Thames Valley that engaging in mediation can lead to significant benefits for all parties involved."
Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies.
Inspector Mike Darrah, Community Policing Command Inspector for Thames Valley Police, said he was thrilled at the announcement of the launch: “ Our hope is that the mediation program will help to resolve disputes more quickly, and mitigate harm and distress for those affected. Proven to be highly effective, it offers an alternative to court proceedings and statutory agency intervention.”
The Thames Valley Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Mediation Service is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks) and is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.
The Police and Crime Commissioner has provided funding of £60,000 annually to Alternatives to Conflict for a period of 3 years up until March 2027.
To find out more head to the website.