An inspectorate report in Northern Ireland said that changing the ethos of the criminal justice system so that it became more service-centred in how it engaged with victims and witnesses would be a major step forward in reducing continuing levels of dissatisfaction.
Source: The Care and Treatment of Victims and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland, Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland
Links: Report | CJINI press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the performance of the main justice agencies in England and Wales through the eyes of victims and witnesses. Criminal justice agencies were not meeting the needs of all victims and witnesses, and needed to improve confidence in what they did.
Source: Giselle Cory, Summing Up: A strategic audit of the criminal justice system, Victim Support
Links: Report | Victim Support press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A study examined victims qualitative experiences of the criminal justice system in the case of crimes reaching court and resulting in a sentence. There was 'clear dissatisfaction' about apparent failures to enforce many sentences fully.
Source: Victims Views of Court and Sentencing: Qualitative research with WAVES victims, Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses in England and Wales
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
An article said that contact by people with victim support services was linked to more favourable views of the fairness of the criminal justice system and to higher levels of confidence in its effectiveness.
Source: Ben Bradford, 'Voice, neutrality and respect: use of victim support services, procedural fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system', Criminology and Criminal Justice, Volume 11 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
A report said that a widespread failure by the criminal justice system to follow the code of practice for victims of crime was undermining confidence in it, and made victims less likely to report incidents in the future.
Source: Left in the Dark: Why victims of crime need to be kept informed, Victim Support
Links: Report | Victim Support press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Sep
The coalition government announced that the United Kingdom would opt in to the European Union directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support, and protection of victims of crime.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 5 September 2011, column 11WS, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | Labour Party press release
Date: 2011-Sep
The victims' commissioner called for a new law that would put into statute rights for families bereaved by homicide – setting out both the rights that the criminal justice system should afford them, and the practical help and support that they should receive.
Source: Louise Casey, Review Into the Needs of Families Bereaved by Homicide, Ministry of Justice
Links: Report | MOJ press release | DPP press release | ACPO press release | Bar Council press release | Labour Party press release | Victim Support press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jul
The European Commission proposed a package of measures designed to ensure a minimum level of rights, support, and protection for victims of crime across the European Union.
Source: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing Minimum Standards on the Rights, Support and Protection of Victims of Crime, European Commission
Links: Draft Directive | European Commission press release | EWL press release | ILGA-Europe press release | Victim Support press release
Date: 2011-May