Recent years have witnessed a prolific expansion in the application of restorative justice principles throughout the globe. The principles of restorative justice have become increasingly influential in the delivery of criminal justice internationally as policymakers have become more concerned about the capacity of the traditional system to deliver participatory processes and fair outcomes that are capable of benefiting victims, offenders and society at large (United Nations, 2006). This article focuses on how restorative practices may be applied to police work in the context of police-led restorative cautioning
and warnings, which are often used for suitable cases as an alternative to prosecution through the courts. The article begins by examining the concept of restorative justice in theory and practice and then considers examples of how police-led restorative cautioning schemes operate. It is argued that whilst restorative methods hold considerable potential to improve police practice and the delivery of justice, care also needs to be taken so that cases are appropriately targeted and resources are used effectively to ensure the potentials of restorative justice are achieved...