Topic: Victims’ Law

Victims’ Commissioner publishes 2022 Victim Survey results as she prepares to address the House of Lords in response to the King’s Speech.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is often treated as ‘low-level crime’ or even as sub-criminal but its impact can be deeply injurious and it is often targeted against people who are vulnerable already. It is high time tackling ASB became a top priority for government.

How have we got to the position where victims find their treatment by the criminal justice system to be worse than the crime itself? We urgently need an entire change of culture in how the justice system sees, hears and helps victims.

In her 2021/22 Annual Report, Dame Vera Baird looks to the changes the Victims' Bill needs to usher in.

New draft legislation published by the justice secretary Dominic Raab will give victims more support in their pursuit of justice – but the Victims' Commissioner warns that more work is required to make significant change.

Running until 3 February 2022, the Ministry of Justice consultation is now open to the public and seeks to understand how victims can be better supported through and beyond the criminal justice process across England and Wales.

"It is the right time to listen to victims and meet their needs to enable the criminal justice system to recover, thrive and improve," says Dame Vera as she welcomes Dominic Raab into post.

In her 2020/21 Annual Report, Dame Vera Baird sets our her vision for reconceptualising the status of victims in the forthcoming Victims Bill.

The Victims' Commissioner welcomes the commitment to consult on new victims' legislation and says "the clock is ticking" for all criminal justice agencies to deliver on the rights in the new Victims’ Code.

Victims’ Commissioner publishes new paper setting out her ambitions for long-awaited Victims’ Law and calls for criminal justice agencies to be more accountable and for victims to be accorded “participants’ rights".