Over 10,000 sign petition to protect help for victims and witnesses
Published: 21 June 2012
- Date:
- 21 June 2012
Around 11,500 people have signed a petition, which is asking the Government to reconsider controversial proposals in its consultation Getting it right for victims and witnesses.
Our research shows that at least £21m of help for victims could be wasted if plans to hand control of budgets to police and crime commissioners go ahead. This means the proposed changes are not in the best interests of victims and witnesses.
The petition signatures have been collected offline and online. And there’s still time to register your concern, as the e-petition will remain open until 18 July. We’re also accepting paper signatures at any Victim Support office.
An Early Day Motion tabled in the Houses of Parliament supporting the cause has also now had 22 MPs signatures, from a range of political parties.
Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support, said: “The growing number of people who have signed our petition and the growing number of MPs who are highlighting this cause prove there’s widespread support for our concerns.
“Anyone could be a victim of crime, so it’s in all our interests to ask the Government to think again. We currently have a gold standard of victims and witnesses services in this country. Why break up what works and risk leaving victims and witnesses without the excellent support that they need and deserve?”
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, download a hard copy petition form(173 KB), or ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motion(25 KB).