Victim Support welcomes Government opt-in to EU victims Directive
Published: 26 August 2011
- Date:
- 26 August 2011
Commenting on the announcement today by Justice Minister Nick Herbert that the UK Government would opt in to the new EU Directive on the rights of victims, Chief Executive of Victim Support, Javed Khan, said: “We’ve been campaigning for this for some time and it’s fantastic news.
"We can and should be proud that the UK already has some of the very best dedicated support services for crime victims anywhere in the world. But the new directive will put many of the rights of victims that we already have onto a stronger, EU-wide footing and guarantee that British citizens get similar levels of support when they travel in Europe. That’s vital as too many victims find out the hard way how profoundly traumatic it can be to become a victim in a foreign country with an alien justice system. The Directive will also improve the standard of support that our fellow Europeans enjoy in their native lands.
"The final wording of the Directive has still to be agreed and this is a rare opportunity to build on the Government’s stated commitment by ensuring that we push for the very highest rights and standards of care possible.”