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The Ministry of Justice has announced a five-point plan to assist victims of crime, including a Victims’ Law to be introduced in the next Parliament to guarantee key entitlements – paralleling the suggestion already made by Sir Keir Starmer QC for the Labour Party.
More immediate goals to be met by March 2015 include: a nationwide Victims’ Information Service about what to expect from the criminal justice system including an online portal and a new helpline; giving vulnerable witnesses a greater opportunity to give evidence from a location not in a court building; developing ways to measure and publish victims’ satisfaction; and ensuring that criminal justice agencies publish information. By December 2014 the Government will consult on options for paying compensation to victims “up front”.
Speaking at the Centre for Social Research in September, the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling was asked about the further commitment to devise a requirement that to be instructed in cases of serious sexual offences, publicly funded advocates must have undergone appropriate specialist training. This compulsory requirement, or “ticketing”, was recommended by the Advocacy Training Council’s report Raising the Bar in April 2011, the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2013, Sir Bill Jeffrey’s Report in May 2014 and the Carlile Report on Youth Justice. It has not yet been accepted on behalf of the Bar. In response to a question pointing out that in order to prosecute serious sexual offences for the Crown, one need only attend a seminar, the Lord Chancellor said: “I can say who can and cannot access legal aid... but we expect the profession to decide what is purposeful in terms of training,” adding “we will look over their shoulder.” “I want [the profession] to shape what is best suited” but “it has to be real training,” he continued. He also spoke of the need for rehabilitation of prisoners, the need to cut “the stubbornly high reoffending rates” and to focus on mental health issues including specialist mental health centres in the prison estate.
Speaking at the Centre for Social Research in September, the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling was asked about the further commitment to devise a requirement that to be instructed in cases of serious sexual offences, publicly funded advocates must have undergone appropriate specialist training. This compulsory requirement, or “ticketing”, was recommended by the Advocacy Training Council’s report Raising the Bar in April 2011, the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2013, Sir Bill Jeffrey’s Report in May 2014 and the Carlile Report on Youth Justice. It has not yet been accepted on behalf of the Bar. In response to a question pointing out that in order to prosecute serious sexual offences for the Crown, one need only attend a seminar, the Lord Chancellor said: “I can say who can and cannot access legal aid... but we expect the profession to decide what is purposeful in terms of training,” adding “we will look over their shoulder.” “I want [the profession] to shape what is best suited” but “it has to be real training,” he continued. He also spoke of the need for rehabilitation of prisoners, the need to cut “the stubbornly high reoffending rates” and to focus on mental health issues including specialist mental health centres in the prison estate.
The Ministry of Justice has announced a five-point plan to assist victims of crime, including a Victims’ Law to be introduced in the next Parliament to guarantee key entitlements – paralleling the suggestion already made by Sir Keir Starmer QC for the Labour Party.
More immediate goals to be met by March 2015 include: a nationwide Victims’ Information Service about what to expect from the criminal justice system including an online portal and a new helpline; giving vulnerable witnesses a greater opportunity to give evidence from a location not in a court building; developing ways to measure and publish victims’ satisfaction; and ensuring that criminal justice agencies publish information. By December 2014 the Government will consult on options for paying compensation to victims “up front”.
Chair of the Bar sets out a busy calendar for the rest of the year
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Review by Stephen Cragg KC
