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Baroness Newlove’s term as Victims’ Commissioner extended

Published:

The Justice Secretary has extended the Victims’ Commissioner’s term, ensuring Baroness Newlove will remain in post through to December 2025.

Baroness Newlove’s term as Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has been extended until December 2025, the Ministry of Justice has announced. 

Seeing it as “a great privilege” to have been given the opportunity to continue serving as the voice of victims and witnesses, Baroness Newlove will carry on championing victims’ interests—fostering a system that upholds their rights and meets their needs, whilst holding government and criminal justice agencies to account.

Independent of government, the Commissioner is expected to act as an advisor to Ministers on victim policy, champion victims’ interests and hold the government and justice agencies to account.

Responding to the announcement, Baroness Newlove, said:

“It is an honour and a great privilege to continue serving as Victims’ Commissioner until the end of next year. My return to this role was driven by a motivation to ensure all victims can access their rights and have their needs met—a cause that remains very close to my heart.

“Over the past year, I am proud to have played a pivotal role in the development of the landmark Victims and Prisoners Act, and I look forward to shaping its implementation in the months ahead. It is clear that we still have a way to go before all victims feel like valued participants within our criminal justice system.

“Victims deserve a system that genuinely sees them, hears their concerns, upholds their dignity and strengthens their resolve. As Victims’ Commissioner, I look forward to working alongside frontline support organisations, Ministers, and criminal justice agencies to rebuild our justice system so that it truly delivers for all victims—no matter the crime, who they are or where they live.”

Baroness Newlove, who served two previous terms as the Commissioner from 2013 to 2019, was in October 2023 appointed by the previous Justice Secretary for an initial 12-month interim period. With her term now extended, Baroness Newlove will now serve as Victims’ Commissioner until 31 December 2025.

This comes as the new Victims and Prisoners Act will further enhance the role of the Victims’ Commissioner, including through the introduction of new mechanisms for monitoring and enhancing compliance with the Victims’ Code.

The new government has also committed to enhancing the role of the Victims’ Commissioner, as outlined in the Labour Party’s election manifesto. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the extension to Baroness Newlove’s term will allow for a new recruitment campaign to be run with a revised role specification, reflecting the government’s vision for a strengthened role.

Baroness Helen Newlove is a prominent advocate for victims’ rights. Her journey into advocacy began in the wake of a personal tragedy—her husband, Garry Newlove, was fatally attacked by a group of youths outside their home in 2007. Following this experience, Baroness Newlove became a tireless campaigner for victims and community safety, raising awareness about issues related to anti-social behaviour, violent crime, and support for victims.

In recognition of her campaigning and achievements, Baroness Newlove was appointed Government Champion for Active, Safer Communities in 2010 and nominated for a peerage by then Prime Minister David Cameron.

Baroness Newlove was first appointed Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales in 2013 and served until 2019. In her role as Victims’ Commissioner, she advocated for changes in the criminal justice system to improve the treatment and support for victims. Her efforts included pushing for better communication, more transparency, and expanded rights for victims within the legal process.