News

Dame Vera Baird publishes her annual report reflecting on her first term as Victims’ Commissioner and the challenges facing victims and the justice system.

Dame Vera Baird calls for victims to share their views of the criminal justice system.

New research from the Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, brings into sharp focus the impact online abuse has on its victims.

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.

The Victims' Commissioner criticises the Home Office document on male victims as "devoid of ambition" and "disappointing in the extreme".

The Victims' Commissioner reacts to the latest criminal court statistics, which show "enormous" court backlogs are leaving victims waiting on average 436 days for their case to come to court.

Dame Vera Baird has announced her "firm intention" to stand for a second term as Victims' Commissioner, as the government launches an open recruitment process.

Dame Vera Baird warmly welcomes move by the Home Secretary, which she brands "game-changing".

"We are now not short on recommendations. Ultimately, the problems in investigating and prosecuting rapes are plain and clear and it is drive and leadership to bring fundamental change on the ground that is now urgently needed."

Dame Vera Baird said most worrying was Home Office data showing 30 per cent of victims withdrew reports of rape within three months, suggesting their experience had been so bad and traumatic that they could not go through with the prosecution.