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News

News stories older than October 2020 can be viewed on the National Archive.

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188 news articles

Victims’ Commissioner welcomes new HMICFRS report recommending ‘immediate action’ to ensure vulnerable migrant victims of crime can confidently report to police

Published:
Dame Vera says some of the most vulnerable people in society suffer significant, avoidable harm in fear fear that criminal justice authorities will treat them as a questionable immigrant, not a victim. "This has to stop," she says, "and I am pleased to see HMICFRS has recognised this in its report."

Victims need to be acknowledged as ‘participants’ in the criminal justice system, says Victims’ Commissioner

Published:
A comprehensive review of how victims are dealt with in other adversarial systems shows England & Wales lag other countries in providing substantive victim participatory rights.

Victims’ Commissioner writes to Minister Malthouse on the recording of hate crime

Published:
Dame Vera Baird has written to the Minister for State for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse MP, to discuss the police recording of hate crime.

Victims’ Commissioner responds to consultation on making parole hearings open to victims

Published:
In her consultation response, Dame Vera Baird welcomes the initiative to consider how to make the parole process more open, while urging the Ministry of Justice to be mindful of the potential for traumatising victims.

Independent report calls for the Victims’ Commissioner to have enhanced powers to ensure agencies are held to account

Published:
New research reveals the Victims' Commissioner needs an enhanced role and powers to ensure entitlements under the Victims' Code are properly delivered and agencies held to account.

BLOG: “If the Domestic Abuse Bill is to make a real difference and save lives, non-fatal strangulation must be made a distinct and serious crime.”

Published:
As we kick off #16DaysOfActivism against gender-based violence, the Victims' Commissioner reflects on the recent Femicide Census 10-year report and reiterates her call for the government to introduce a freestanding offence of strangulation in the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Joint statement on Spending Review

Published:
The Victims' Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner respond to the announcement of government funding for domestic abuse in the Spending Review.

Joint letter calls on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to commit to longer-term, sustainable funding for domestic abuse services

Published:
Ahead of the upcoming Spending Review, the Victims' Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner write a joint letter to the Prime Minister and Chancellor highlighting the "inadequacy of current funding arrangements" for domestic abuse services.

New courtroom protections for vulnerable victims available nationwide

Published:
The Victims' Commissioner welcomes the national rollout of pre-recorded cross-examination (Section 28).

Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner welcome the announcement of additional funds to support domestic abuse and sexual violence services

Published:
The Commissioners welcome the emergency funding, "which will ensure help and support for thousands of victims for the next few months,” and urge the government to work quickly to provide clarity on longer-term funding.