News

As early releases are set to start from 1 October, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, has warned that the coming weeks will provide the first real test of whether the safeguards promised by ministers are working in practice.

In an open letter published ahead of the Prime Minister's Labour Party Conference speech, Claire Waxman argues that any credible ‘Plan for Britain’ must include a Plan for Justice and calls on the Prime Minster to demonstrate leadership on criminal justice reform.

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales welcomes specialist rape courts but warns backlog threatens impact.

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales has warned that criminal justice reform was largely absent from the Prime Minister's vision for the country, despite mounting pressures across prisons, probation, policing, courts and victim services and growing concerns about public safety.

Claire Waxman, Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, said changes in policy have fuelled distress and anxiety 'raising a burning question: Is anyone truly in control of this crisis?'

New research from the Victims' Commissioner reveals how victims of road collisions are left in limbo while police decide whether cases will be treated as crimes. Poor communication, lengthy investigations and court delays compound victims' trauma, while too few are referred for the specialist support that can transform their recovery.

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales has warned that serious failings exposed in the case of serial sex offender and double murderer Simon Levy risk being repeated unless urgent action is taken to strengthen public protection systems.

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, has responded to the Government's announcement on sentencing reforms and the delay to implementation until October.