The Audit Commission called for national targets on victim and witness care which would apply not only to the criminal justice service but also to local authorities and crime and disorder reduction partnerships.
Source: Victims and Witnesses: Providing better support, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf) | Audit Commission press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A report said that people who should be eligible for state compensation as victims of violent crimes were missing out as a result of unfair rules. It detailed the ways in which the criminal injuries compensation scheme discriminated against certain groups of victims - some victims of sexual crimes, people on means-tested benefits, and people abused before October 1979 by someone living in the family home.
Source: Insult to Injury: How the criminal injuries compensation system is failing victims of crime, Victim Support (020 7735 9166)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A research report highlighted the concerns of victims of violence in Northern Ireland, including those affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland and by domestic, racial and other types of violence. It examined international standards on victims' rights, and identified those rights which research participants felt should be reflected in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. These included rights to recognition, truth, justice, information, compensation, restitution, protection and privacy.
Source: Human Rights and Victims of Violence, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (028 9024 3987)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
A probation inspectorate report said that the majority of areas inspected were improving their performance on victim contact work: but that there was still significant scope for improvement. It called for a new national standard for victim contact work.
Source: Valuing the Victim: Inspection into national victim contact arrangements, HM Inspectorate of Probation (020 7035 2200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Jul
The government published a strategy document setting out a joint approach across the criminal justice system on meeting the needs of victims and witnesses. It identified gaps in services, and set out how future initiatives would help to make improvements. It also highlighted the needs of victims and witnesses for support from non-criminal justice agencies (such as health, social services, housing, education and social security).
Source: A New Deal for Victims and Witnesses: National strategy to deliver improved services, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
A report presented the findings from a study of victimhood in Northern Ireland in relation to political violence, and of the psychological well-being of those who saw themselves as victims. 12 per cent of the sample said they 'often' or 'very often' thought of themselves as victims of the 'Troubles'. Victims, however defined, included men and women of all ages, from both denominations, from every social class, and living in areas of historically high, medium and low violence.
Source: Ed Cairns and John Mallett, Who are the Victims? Self-assessed victimhood and the Northern Irish conflict, Research & Statistical Series Report 7, Northern Ireland Office (028 9052 7534)
Links: Report (pdf) | NIO press release
Date: 2003-Jun
Proposals were published by the Scottish police inspectorate, designed to put the needs of victims and their families at the heart of criminal investigations.
Source: Relatively Speaking - Thematic inspection of family liaison in Scotland, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-May
A committee of MPs said that, in order to address a lack of evidence as to the most effective forms of support for victims and witnesses, the government should examine the impact of existing services in helping people overcome the effects of their experience - for example the impact on minimising working days lost, and on improving people's perceptions of the criminal justice system.
Source: Helping Victims and Witnesses: Work of Victim Support, Seventeenth Report (Session 2002-03), HC 635, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Victim Support press release
Date: 2003-May
The government reportedly said that plans to give legal rights to the victims of crime were being deferred, owing to lack of parliamentary time caused by the introduction of a Bill on anti-social behaviour. (The Labour Party promised in both its 1997 and 2001 manifestos to bring forward legislation to give information and compensation rights to crime victims.)
Source: The Guardian, 10.3.03
Links:Guardian report
Date: 2003-Mar
A progress report said that 'unprecedented progress' has been made on issues concerning crime victims in Scotland - including the establishment of a witness service in all 49 Sheriff Courts, a new website for victims of crime, and plans for a pilot victim statements scheme.
Source: Scottish Strategy for Victims: Progress report, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Date: 2003-Feb