,
Labour’s Shadow Minister for Victims and Youth Justice,
responding to the Victims Commissioner's call for the
introduction of a Victims Law, said:
“We are pleased to see the Victims’ Commissioner calling for a
new law to place victims at the heart of the justice system.
“After years of failed promises from the government, Labour
recently introduced a draft Victims Law to Parliament that would
do just that. It’s there, published, and ready to go.
“The government needs to work with us to get it onto statute
without more delay, and end the scandal of victims facing the
second injustice of being let down by the very system that is
supposed to help them.”
Ends
Notes to editors
“A Victims’ Law has been long awaited and is now long overdue.
All leading parties promised legislation on victims in their 2015
manifestos. So, I’m pleased there remains consensus across the
political spectrum to deliver change for victims and it’s good to
see the Opposition highlighting this in Parliament today.
“If we are to regain the trust of victims, we urgently need a
change of culture in how the justice system treats them. We have
seen a sharp decline in victim confidence in the justice system
for some years now. Some victims say that they found their
treatment by the criminal justice system worse than the crime and
more and more victims are withdrawing their support for
prosecutions as a result.
“A Victims’ Law must put the rights of victims in law and
criminal justice agencies must be held to account for complying
with those rights. We need to help victims to cope, recover and
play their role in the justice system and to ensure that those
who are guilty are convicted and prevented from victimising
others."
https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/news/victims-commissioner-responds-to-opposition-moves-to-introduce-victims-legislation/
