Visiting Victim Support's new London headquarters, the Minister
heard first-hand the realities of delivering vital support
services for brave survivors in a system in crisis.
The visit follows plans set out in the King's Speech to bring
forward a Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill to give
victims the justice and support they deserve as part of the
government's blueprint to halve violence against women and girls
in the next decade.
Determined that the justice system will provide a safe space for
victims to report and recover from crime, Minister Davies-Jones
told staff the government will serve the public by ensuring the
voices of brave survivors are returned to the heart of the system
and their rights are upheld at every stage of the process.
Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls said:
Victims and survivors are being failed by a system they feel does
not support them. Rape victims are waiting years for justice and
an appalling 60 percent of victims choose to withdraw entirely
from the process rather than prolong their pain.
This government is committed to restoring trust in our justice
system, halving violence against women and ensuring victims'
rights are upheld. In light of recent events, this has never
been more important. The Victims, Courts and Public Protection
Bill is just the first step of many in achieving this – and I
want to reassure victims that the hard work starts now.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Victim Support is an
invaluable service for victims and survivors across the country -
delivering specialist and tailored support to people affected by
crime and anti-social behaviour. It also runs the Government's
Homicide
Service which helps bereaved families or eyewitnesses
affected by murder or manslaughter.
Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at the charity Victim Support
said:
We were delighted to welcome the Victims and VAWG Minister to our
London offices earlier this week to meet with frontline staff and
discuss the many challenges facing victims. Minister Davies-Jones
took the time to hear about the vital role of independent support
services in helping people to cope and move on after crime.
We look forward to working with the government to improve the
lives of victims and repair the criminal justice system.
The visit follows recent research from the National Police
Chief's Council on violence against women and girls. This
showed these appalling crimes increased by 37 per cent
between 2018 and 2023, with at least 1 in every 12 women falling
victim each year.
During this month's King's Speech, the government announced
plans for a new Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill which
will deliver a justice system that gives victims of crimes get
the support they deserve.
The Bill will include measures that:
- strengthen powers for the Victims' Commissioner to ensure
that they are empowered to hold the system to account for the
needs of victims not being met
- require offenders to attend their sentencing hearings so that
victims and bereaved family members of deceased victims see
criminals face the consequences of their actions
- protect the public from sex offenders, restricting parental
responsibility for child sex offenders and implementing
restrictions on sex offenders changing their names
