Victims come first in new justice law
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Parental responsibility to be restricted for perpetrators of worst
child sex offences Victims given longer to challenge sentences they
believe are too lenient. Measures to support victims in speaking
out against crime and punish criminals who refuse to attend
sentencing hearings – to deliver fairer justice for all. Victims of
crime will benefit from a series of crucial measures to ensure they
get the support, protection and dignity they deserve, as the
Victims...Request free trial
Victims of crime will benefit from a series of crucial measures to ensure they get the support, protection and dignity they deserve, as the Victims and Courts Bill becomes law. The Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent - marking an important step towards building a justice system that works better for victims. For the first time ever, the new law will allow judges to hand down prison punishments for cowardly criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearing. The measures will also protect innocent children by restricting the exercise of parental responsibility by offenders sentenced for serious child sexual abuse, and where a rape has resulted in the birth of a child. The new legislation will also ensure that victims are not prevented from speaking out against crime and have longer than ever to challenge sentences they don't feel fit the crime they've suffered. The move is a vital part of the Government's Plan for Change – helping to deliver justice for all victims and restore faith in the justice system. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said: “For too long, too many victims have been left to navigate a justice system where they often felt like an afterthought. Today, that changes. “The new Victims and Courts Act will make sure that victims' needs, voices and rights are at the heart of our justice system. “It is an Act for survivors, for bereaved families and for everyone who has fought to be heard.” The new legislation will include a series of important measures for victims and bereaved families. These include, but are not limited to:
Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Alex Davies-Jones said: “For every victim who has felt let down by the justice system, this legislation sends a powerful message: you matter, your voice matters, and your rights matter. “I would like to thank the remarkable families of Jan Mustafa, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena who have campaigned tirelessly to ensure offenders attend their sentencing so they can finally confront the reality of their crimes. “I would also like to thank Tracey Hanson and Katie Brett whose incredible work will help ensure other families don't experience the injustices they faced by not being able to challenge sentences they felt did not fit the crime. “From today, we're putting victims' interests at the heart of the justice system, to protect them, support them, and deliver the fairer justice they deserve.” The new Victims and Courts Act will also give victims confidence about the routes available to receive information about their offender's release, by updating post-conviction communication schemes. It will also remove outdated restrictions on who the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can appoint as Crown Prosecutors, allowing a larger pool of suitably qualified candidates to take on the role. The new Act builds on wider action the government has introduced to support victims and ensure they get the fast and fair justice they deserve. This includes:
NOTES FOR EDITORS
SUPPORTIVE QUOTES Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme reforms Tracey Hanson: “Today's announcement marks a historic victory for victims as the Victims and Courts Bill achieves Royal Assent. This marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, meaning the changes we have spent seven years fighting for are now the law of the land. “When I started this campaign, I was a mother fuelled by the injustice of a system that shut its doors on me because I missed a deadline by a couple of hours. Today, because of our collective persistence, the law finally recognises that grief does not operate on a 28-day clock. “For every victim and bereaved family in England and Wales, the landscape of justice has changed forever. The 28-day limit for Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) appeals has been replaced with a six month window, giving families the vital time they need to seek justice. “The Duty to Notify: The law now mandates that victims must be informed of their right to appeal, ensuring no one is "left in the dark" as I was. If we are not informed of our right, we can now, in special circumstances, seek that considerations are granted. “This law was not handed to us; it was won. It was built on seven years of evidence-based advocacy and the support of the thousands of victims and bereaved families who stood with The Josh Hanson Trust. To be personally named in Parliament for this work is a rare honour, but the true reward is knowing that future families will have a fairer, more compassionate path than the one I had to walk. “While we celebrate this massive leap forward, our mission remains. Royal Assent is a milestone, but the fight for true parity, to ensure victims and bereaved families have the exact same rights as offenders, continues. “The Government may have made these amendments law, but in the hearts of the public and the stakeholders who stood with us, this will always be Josh's Law. We have turned an 11-year journey of tragedy into a permanent promise of protection. “To everyone who has written to an MP or shared Josh's story: We did it. We have changed the law, and in doing so, we have ensured that Josh's name is synonymous with justice for all. “The journey continues as we remain vigilant to ensure these law changes will be carried out by a sole agency, namely the CPS, to fulfil their duty to notify. Katie Brett: “When Sasha was brutally murdered 13 years ago our lives were blown apart. Sasha would be 30 this year on the 7th May. Her birth brought so much joy to our lives, she was the baby and she made our family complete. “Losing Sasha broke us in a way I could never describe, then we had further heartbreak when we sat through the murder trial and learnt Sasha's final moments and how they were nothing but terror. Our family are forever haunted by this, all for the sexual gratification of David Minto. We will always live with the guilt as we didn't protect her and because we were not aware of our right to appeal her murderer's sentence we have failed her again. “28 days is simply not enough for families to process the trauma of their loved one's murder trial and be ready to fight again. For 9 years I have been trying to challenge David Minto's sentence and while I know this can never happen, there is some comfort knowing that families in future will have more time if they are unable to apply to the scheme within the time limit. “This will be thanks to Sasha, and she will now be remembered for what we have achieved in her name and not just because of how she died.” Non-attendance at sentencing hearings Farah Naz: “We tirelessly campaigned for this change amongst others, because it never made sense that a loophole could allow offenders to avoid sentencing. In that moment, power shifted back to the perpetrator. We lost the chance to see justice, to see that rebalancing in the room. It is a basic human need to face the person who has changed your life forever, and for them to face what they have done. “Justice must be seen as well as delivered. This reform matters.” NDAs: Zelda Perkins: “This is a significant step in dismantling the culture of silence around abuse and redressing the imbalance of power. By making clear that NDAs can never be used to stop victims' speaking about criminal conduct, this Bill reinforces the new direction of travel towards transparency and integrity of law. “The real test however, will be in enforcement and awareness: rights on paper won't matter if victims don't know they can safely use them.” |