News

Dame Vera Baird welcomes renewed investment in ISVAs and IDVAs but stresses the need for long-term, sustainable funding for the sector.

Dame Vera Baird says this "continues the disastrous downward trajectory of CPS charging in rape, which started in 2017 and continues to this day."

Applications are open for the role of CEO of the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner. Closing date 5 February 2021.

"It is incredibly important that victims and survivors know there are safe spaces and lifelines within their own communities," says Dame Vera Baird, as she welcomes the launch of the codeword scheme.

Victims’ Commissioner welcomes “welcome and clear-sighted move” by Home Secretary to reverse and end the presumption against bail, which “was a misconceived move” and “bad for victims.”

Dame Vera Baird said it was "incredibly frustrating and disappointing" to find GPs were still charging. "This fee must be abolished – it’s as simple as that."

The Victims' Commissioner fears the move from the Home Office set back work in the field and further hide the issue, which is already hidden, mis-identified, and under-detected.

The Victims' Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner voice their support for Baroness Newlove's amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill, which would create an offence of strangulation or asphyxiation.

Dame Vera Baird called for assurances from HMCTS that pressures on the court system, including the growing case backlog, would not "outweigh the potential adverse impacts on victims and witnesses".

Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner say "little progress" has been made since the HMICFRS Honour Based Abuse inspection recommendations in 2015 and call for a follow-up inspection.