For too
long victims of crime have lacked confidence in our criminal justice system. That
has to change.
There
have been too many examples of innocent people being let down by the justice
system. There has to be a better way to ensure victims’ rights are properly
protected.
All
victims of crime need proper support appropriate to their circumstance, whether
it’s somebody who has had their wallet stolen in the street or a victim of
domestic violence who lacks the confidence to report the assault.
The
current government simply isn’t interested in standing up for victims of crime.
It left the position of Victims’ Commissioner vacant for over a year. It has
repeatedly dismissed calls for improved rights for victims and witnesses.
The contrast between that and the attitude of Dr Alan Billings, Labour’s Police
and Crime Commissioner, who has given half of the Commissioner’s allowance to
support victims in South Yorkshire, is telling.
Labour’s
Victims’ Taskforce, established in December 2013 to look at the detail of what
this law should include, has now published its findings. The taskforce included
Doreen Lawrence, who led the campaign for justice for her son Stephen.
Their report outlines the rights
that could be in such a victim’s law, including a right to have your crime
recorded, the right to appeal a decision if the authorities decide not to charge
someone and the right to know basic information about your case.
The report also recommends new
arrangements for controlling the way vulnerable victims and witnesses are
treated in court, and a new mandatory duty on those working with children so
that non-reporting of child abuse becomes a criminal offence
The current Victim’s Code of Conduct
is an improvement on its predecessor, but toothless. A beefed-up Code and a
Victims’ Commissioner, given powers of enforcement, would make a big
difference.
I know
that local people want a government that stands up for victims of crime. We all
need the next government to deliver a justice system fit for innocent victims
and witnesses.
You can
read the Victims’ Taskforce Report at
