MPs call Government’s approach to victims’ services ‘a shambles’
Published: 18 May 2012
- Date:
- 18 May 2012
The Government must 'get it right' for victims and witnesses
Victims of crime this week had further support in the House of Commons from a selection of MP’s, increasing pressure on Government to reconsider some controversial proposals in the Ministry of Justice’s consultation, Getting it right for victims and witnesses.
During Justice Questions, both Diana Johnson MP and Nick Smith MP asked questions on the future of victims’ services to Justice Minister Crispin Blunt MP.
Addressing the House of Commons, Diana Johnson MP quoted Victim Support’s research which shows that £21m of help for victims could be wasted if government plans to hand control of budgets to police and crime commissioners (PCCs) go ahead.
Nick Smith MP called on the Government to ring-fence any funding that is devolved to PCCs, while Tom Brake MP called on the Minister to clarify which crimes will require a minimum guaranteed level of support to victims from PCCs.
Rob Flello MP summarised these sentiments by saying that the “Government’s approach to victims’ services is a shambles”.
Responding to these comments, Crispin Blunt MP acknowledged that there has been a steady improvement in services to victims and witnesses in the past two decades and confirmed that the Government is still making a decision about which victim services are commissioned locally and which will remain to be commissioned nationally.
Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support, said: “This continued pressure from parliamentarians from across the political spectrum reflects the concerns of the many thousands of people who have signed our e-petition. They are all calling on the Government to listen and urgently review its damaging proposals.
“We echo Nick Smith MP’s calls on the Government to guarantee the additional £50m for victims’ services in order to ensure that victims don’t suffer twice.”
Read our concerns and our full response to ‘Getting it right for victims and witnesses’ the Ministry of Justice consultation(2 MB).
Want to show your support? Sign the e-petition.