Research
| Published date | 01 June 1989 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058903600215 |
| Date | 01 June 1989 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
ily the desired outcome of mediation.
RESEARCH
Certainly it was rare to come across a
case in which there was a desire to
restore a personal relationship. A sim-
ple cessation of hostilities was more
often what was sought.
,
For those who agreed to partici-
pate in the scheme, the desire to try
and get the conflict sorted out was cou-
pled in virtually every instance with
very low expectations that mediation
would achieve anything. These expecta-
tions proved to be well-founded. Out of
the 59 neighbours interviewed, 47 gave
answers indicating that the scheme’s
Sandwell Mediation
intervention bad been to no effect, and
Scheme
that the difficulties with their neigh-
Richard Young of ~ir~n’ag~~. Univer-
bours had continued as before. In three
sity’s Law Faculty writes:
more instances
only a short-term
This scheme was set up by the Proba-
improvement was reported, but in the
tion Service in 1984 in the West
nine other cases substantial long-term
Midlands with the aim of resolving
benefits were evident. Two people said
neighbour disputes. Mediation is car-
that these benefits had not come about
ried
out
be
either
a
salaried
because their neighbour had become
co-ordinator or a volunteer, usually on
any more reasonable but rather
a go-between basis. This note briefly
because they had developed new ways
summarises research I carried out into
of coping with the conflict. The other
the effectiveness of the scheme in the
seven respondents said that both par-
first 44 cases it dealt with. 75 neigh-
ties to the dispute had significantly
bours were contacted by the project
altered their behaviour as a result of
during the evaluation period and
mediation, and that there was a better
research interviews were carried out
understanding of each other’s position.
with 59 of this number.
Three of these respondents had been
involved in one of the rare face-to-face
In assessing the potential for medi-
meetings arranged by the project and it
ation in this field it is important to
was notable that they were particularly
examine the reasons why people decid-
impressed with the results obtained.
ed not to use the scheme. 18
The cases in which the scheme
respondents had either refused a visit
tended to have the most success were
from a mediator or had not wanted the
those in which several visits were made
scheme to contact the other party to
to each party and those in which joint
the dispute. Most had no objection to
meetings were held. In too many cases
talking to a stranger (the mediator)
the mediation process seemed to have
about their problems; they merely felt
just petered out and in these cases the
that a conciliatory approach was not
results obtained were invariably negli-
appropriate, given what they consid-
gible. The lesson seems to be that a
ered
to
be
their
neighbour’s
mediator in a neighbour dispute needs
intransigence. It seemed that the
to display both a degree of tenacity and
scheme could easily alienate a party
a commitment to the process in order
dispute if it failed to get the message
to compensate for the disputants’ obvi-
across that
ous lack of enthusiasm for mediation.
89
friendship was not necessar-
Analysing Rape
more of a rarity and prison terms
Two Home Office Research Unit
longer, particularly for rape involving
reports illuminate the current profile of
aggravating features.
rape. Changes in Rape Offences and
These findings are complemented
Sentencing (Report 105, February
by Concerns about Rape (Report...
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