Each individual brings his or her own prejudices and preferences to the role of facilitator. If this is achieved, the background of the facilitator becomes unimportant to the participants and they are likely to be satisfied with the process regardless of the outcome. I have no problems with local officers attending conferences as a representative of the community they serve. I have seen many examples where local beat officers have been the main catalyst to the formation of residence groups on new housing developments for instance. This has been noticeable in the new city of Milton Keynes, where having formed several neighbourhood watch schemes in the area, these have gone on to become the nucleus of a later formed residents group.
Police hold a fairly unique position within their communities.
There appears to be an acceptance generally that because of their role and status of the office of constable, they command respect and standing within their communities. Local Police are also seen as a good barometer of the current issues, particularly in relation to law and order and therefore able to input this during a conference. Police are at the forefront of conferencing internationally and in several cases have been the catalyst to the introduction and subsequent legislation that has followed. So far from backing off from conferencing, I see police as central to the delivery and co-ordination of conferencing activity, before we even consider the next statement. Police officers exercising their bone-fide right to deliver reprimands and warnings to young people and cautions to adults in a restorative style, coupled with a restorative process to deal with complaints and grievances, has the potential to develop a truly restorative organisation.