Crime victims 'to pick punishments'
Published: 09 October 2012
- Date:
- 09 October 2012
Home Secretary Theresa May today said victims of antisocial behaviour will be given a say on how offenders are punished.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham Mrs May said: "We will change the law so when a criminal receives an out-of-court community punishment, the victim will be given the power to choose the form it takes. They'll be given a list of options.
"They might want something restorative or punitive. They might want it to be carried out nearby or as far away as possible. But what matters is that the punishment will be chosen by the victim."
The new policy would be led by police and crime commissioners, who are due to be elected next month.
Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support said: "We welcome the Home Secretary's commitment to victims. We know from helping thousands of victims that they want a greater voice in how sentencing works – not only to punish but to make sure what happened to them doesn't happen to anyone else.
"Victims can benefit enormously from the chance to explain the impact of crime and seek an apology from the offender. So a restorative option for the victims who want it is very important.
"We look forward to seeing the detail behind these proposals."