One-punch killer leads restorative justice campaign

Jacob Dunne was convicted of manslaughter after he killed James Hodgkinson with a single punch

A man from Nottingham who was jailed for manslaughter is leading a new campaign to give the victims of crime a legal right to be told about "restorative justice".

Jacob Dunne killed James Hodgkinson with a single punch during a fight in 2011, but he later met with the victim's family who accepted it had been a "stupid mistake".

Restorative justice is voluntary opportunity for the victim and the offender to share with each other how the crime has affected them - which can be face-to-face, by writing, or through recorded interviews.

According to campaign, called The Right To Be Heard, fewer than one in 20 victims are ever informed about the option despite evidence it reduces reoffending.

Mr Dunne, who took part in restorative justice, said meeting the parents of Mr Hodgkinson had been the hardest thing he had ever done.

"But it gave me the determination to change," he said. "Restorative justice didn't erase the harm, but it helped all of us find a way forward."

Campaigners want an amendment added to the Victims and Courts Bill to "guarantee" that every victim of crime in England and Wales will be told about the scheme and offered a referral to a local service.

The bill is currently going through Parliament, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.

Jacob Dunne acted as a consultant on a play created about his story

The launch of the campaign coincides with a play about Jacob Dunne's story opening in London and New York.

Punch was written by the Nottinghamshire playwright James Graham.

Cast member Julie Hesmondhalgh said working alongside Mr Dunne had shown her how restorative justice could "change lives".

She hoped that the petition being ran by the campaign would help more people understand the "transformative power" of the scheme.

The Common Ground Justice Project and the charity Why Me?' who are organising the campaign, said restorative justice achieved an 85% victim satisfaction score and reduced reoffending by up to 27%

The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.