Category: Victims in the justice system

Responding to the report's findings, Dame Vera Baird praises the "ambition" and calls for VAWG to be a strategic policing issue and subject to the local duty in PCSC Bill.

"We have to seize this moment if we are to escape this crisis on our justice system," says Victims' Commissioner, as she warns the government has a "mountain to climb" to restore victim confidence in the justice system.

The Victims' Commissioner and Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner issue a joint statement: "Unless victims receive the care they require at first point of contact with the criminal justice system, we’ve got no hope of victims supporting a case through court."

Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses still put at risk of coming face-to-face with perpetrators and not receiving the support they need to prevent courtroom intimidation.

"It’s clear that this trajectory is no good for anyone and this cannot carry on – we must get to the bottom of this," says Commissioner.

“Far too few rape cases are resulting in a charge and hundreds of complainants annually are being denied justice," says Dame Vera Baird.

The Victims’ Commissioner tells the College of Policing what the new Victims' Code means for police staff and officers.

"In a damning sign of a lack of faith in our criminal justice system, 1 in 4 say they did not think they would be believed if they did report and 39% believe the police could not help in any case."

Dame Vera Baird responds to the judgement in the judicial review of the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences and calls for the government's end-to-end rape review to now deliver "deep and meaningful change".

Dame Vera Baird and Nicole Jacobs welcome moves by the Lord Chancellor to review sentencing for women who use weapons in self-defence against their abusers