Parole Board hearings: Victim welfare must remain paramount, as ‘welcome’ national rollout confirmed
The Victims' Commissioner responds to a government announcement confirming that a scheme - giving eligible victims' the opportunity to attend and observe their perpetrator's parole board hearing - will be rolled out nationally, following a successful regional pilot.
Today, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed that a regional pilot scheme providing victims with the opportunity to observe their perpetrator’s parole hearing will be rolled out nationally across England and Wales.
The national rollout follows a pilot in the South West of England and Greater Manchester, having found that attending and observing the hearing had a reassuring impact on victims.
In her most recent annual report – published in October last year – the Victims’ Commissioner called for the pilot to be rolled out nationally, adding that the time had come to give all eligible victims the right to apply to attend hearings.
Commenting on the decision, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:
As someone who has been through the parole process, I welcome this national rollout. This is a vital step towards lifting the lid on a system that has long felt closed off to victims, helping them feel more meaningfully involved rather than bystanders to proceedings.
As the rollout begins, it is crucial that victims are provided with all the information they need to make an informed choice about whether to apply – and to understand what to expect if their application is successful- alongside access to guidance and support at every stage of the parole hearing process. Open justice should always be encouraged, but victim welfare must remain paramount.
ENDS
- Read the MoJ press notice on GOV.UK
- Read the section about victims and parole in Baroness Newlove’s most recent annual report (p.25)