Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the Government’s plans for victims of crime, said:   “David Cameron’s Government say they are on the side of victims and witnesses but their actions prove the opposite. They have been letting them down for four years –slashing compensation for innocent victims of violent crime, leaving the position of Victims Commissioner vacant for almost a year and then made her part-time, wanting to knock half off prison sentences if criminals plead guilty, closing down rape centres and courts which make it more difficult for victims and witnesses to get justice, cutting resources for Victims Support and more.     “This announcement looks like it’s been cobbled together on the back of an envelope, in the dying months of this government. In contrast, Labour’s Victims’ Taskforce has been in place for almost a year, has consulted widely and has met many of the key groups and a number of victims and witnesses to help it draw up plans for a ‘Victims’ Law’. Our proposals will deliver the real culture change needed, putting victims and witnesses at the heart of our justice system.”   Ends Editors notes   1.   Labour has committed to introduce a Victims’ Law after the next election. Sadiq Khan confirmed in his speech to Labour Party Conference 2013 that Labour will introduce a Victims’ Law http://www.sadiqkhan.org.uk/sadiq_speech_to_labour_party_conference_2013   2.   Back in December 2013, Labour established a Victims’ Taskforce, led by former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir Starmer QC, former Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Peter Neyroud, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence.   3.   The Taskforce is responsible for bringing forward recommendations as to what should be included in a future victims’ law, plus any further policy improvements which could accompany the introduction of a victims’ law. Labour will then use the Taskforce recommendations as the basis of a draft Bill. The Taskforce is due to report this autumn.   4.   A Victims’ Law would ensure that the right to make a victim impact statement is enforceable and that there is someone to oversee the process. It would give victims legal rights, helping to change behaviour and culture across the whole of our criminal justice system to create a system that is properly focused on the victim.   5.   The Tories promised to put victims of crime first and get tough on crime but their record doesn’t match the rhetoric. Victims, who should come first, have been let down as the Tories have refused to bring in a Victims’ Law and their tough talk has been exposed as nothing but empty words as they have broken their promises and watered down existing laws.   6.   The previous Victims Commissioner called for a victims’ law, yet this Government ignored her.     “The system currently fobs victims off with charters, codes, and nowhere to complain when things go wrong” Louise Casey, then Victims’ Commissioner, The Guardian 6 July 2011 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jul/06/victims-crime-legal-rights    7.   In the House of Commons the Justice Secretary attacked Labour’s calls for a victims’ law: Dan Jarvis MP: It is important that we reduce reoffending so that we have fewer victims of crime, but far too many victims are being failed by our criminal justice system. Yesterday, a serial victim of domestic abuse was almost forced to disclose her safe address during a court hearing; she was saved only when the local Member of Parliament intervened. Months since the Government blocked our proposals to prevent such cases from happening. When is the Secretary of State going to protect victims with a proper victims’ law? Chris Grayling MP:  The Opposition always talk about laws. What we have is a victims’ code, which was put in place last year and was widely welcomed by victims’ groups. We are also following innovative new approaches, such as the scheme being trialled now to protect vulnerable witnesses by keeping them outside the cordon of the courtroom. I am always open to ideas about how we can improve the situation. Victims are a priority and will continue to be so. Hansard, 1 July 2014, Column 728    8.   The Tories record on victims is woeful. On their watch, they have: ·         Slashed £50million of compensation for innocent victims of serious and violent crimes; ·         Attempted to give ½ off prison sentences for early guilty pleas, only to back down in the face of serious opposition from Labour; ·         Changed the law so that bail is now more likely to be granted (done to reduce prison numbers); ·         Abolished Labour’s tough indeterminate (IPP) sentences for the most serious and violent criminals at greatest risk of re-offending and replaced them with a watered down “two-strikes” policy – allowing a “free hit” before being put beyond harm’s way, creating needless victims of crime; ·         Delayed implementing the previous government’s commitment to compensate innocent victims of overseas terrorism; ·         Dragged their heals in establishing the Office of Chief Coroner –crucial in raising the standards of coroners, and improving the experiences of those awaiting the outcome of inquests into the deaths of their loved ones; ·         Made insensitive and offensive comments on the issue of rape (Both Chris Grayling http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chris-graylings-rape-comments-raise-fury-after-abuse-victims-suicide-8488555.html and Ken Clarke http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13436429); ·         Left the role of Victims Commissioner vacant for over a year, and downgraded the new person in post from being full time to just 2 days a week; ·         Allocated monies for victim and witnesses to Police and Crime Commissioners but on the basis of population, not need – thus higher crime areas will be under-resourced as a result; ·         The Tories wanting to abolish the Human Rights Act and leave the European Convention on Human Rights Act – this would weaken the rights of victims of crime (e.g. rape victims are now not cross-examined by their alleged attackers because of human rights legislation); ·         Their revamped Victims’ Code of Conduct is toothless and unenforceable, and won’t deliver the necessary culture change across our criminal justice service.