THE police and crime commissioner (PCC) of Thames Valley has welcome findings that all victims have the right to speak with their offender.

Anthony Stansfeld said restorative justice can help with victims to recover from the impact of crimes.

The conservative PCC and Thames Valley Partnership - the charity which runs restorative justice in Oxfordshire - welcomed the findings in the report by the House of Commons Justice Committee.

The report highlighted the benefits of restorative justice for victims and the reduction in reoffending rates for criminals.

It also looked at the appropriateness of restorative justice for serious cases such as sexual and domestic violence, and concluded: "while restorative justice will not be appropriate in every case, it should not be excluded simply by reason of the type of offence committed".

Mr Stansfeld was among the first to commission a victim-initiated restorative justice service, which has been provided since April 1 last year.

It is available for all victims of crime across the whole area, whether the crime has been reported to the police or not.

He said: "Restorative justice can significantly help victims cope and recover with the impact of the crime and I welcome the committee’s recommendation on victims having access to restorative justice.

"The service I commissioned, which is available across the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, gives all victims the opportunity to communicate with their offender and address the harm caused."