Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Last year one in four people was a victim of crime, down from 1995 when it was one in three, yet this still reflects a high figure. The Criminal Justice System supports victims and witnesses, although this system is considered by the general public to not do enough. This Public Service Agreement strategy sets out new Government plans to boost the public confidence of the CJS.

Title: A New Deal for Victims and Witnesses - National Strategy
Author: Home Office Communication Directorate
Number of pages: 31
Date published: July 2003
Availability: Download full document PDF 372Kb

The strategy has proposals for new measures to initiate over the next 3 - 5 years of the scheme, and also including the ongoing development of:

• The Witness service by the voluntary Victim Support Group

• Introduction of the Victim Personal Statements

• Deployment of Family Liaison Officers by the Police

• Provision of information to victims by the Crime Prosecution Service (CPS)

• Notifying victims of serious crime about release arrangements of offenders

• Processes like Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, Restorative Justice in Youth Courts etc.

• Publication of practice guidance on pre-trial therapy for child witnesses

• Reorganisation of the CJS into 42 different Local Criminal Justice Boards

• Establishment of new victims advisory panel

• Community legal service partnerships providing better infrastructure of advice.

With new plans alongside the established measures, the CJS services should improve dramatically. This includes all 42 local Criminal Justice Boards taking action to improve victim and support satisfaction. At the heart of the strategy is the proposed introduction of a Victim and Witnesses Bill, as well as further provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill. This establishes a new post of Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses, who will be their National Voice.

Problems the public perceive with the current CJS system:

• Very few victims see their offender brought to justice - less than half of crime is reported

• Fewer than a fifth of all reported crimes are brought to justice

• Victim satisfaction with the police has gone down from 68% in 1994, to 58% in 2002, back to 59% in 2003

• Less than a third of all victims felt that they had been well informed by the police

• While three quarters are confident it respects the rights of people accused of crimes, only a third are confident it meets the needs of victims

There is some improvement in witness satisfaction

• 67% said they would be happy to be a witness again, compared to 61% in 2001

In order to tackle the above problems the strategy's main aims and objectives outline:

• The reduction of the adverse effects of crime on victims and witnesses

• The encouragement of more victims and witnesses to come forward

• The opportunity to give victims and witnesses new options including alternatives to court attendance

The strategy addresses the victim's needs as every situation is different and complex. The witnesses needs are equally important and issues are considered such as court proceedings etc.

To meet the PSA targets of improving public CJS service, the key issues are getting the case to go ahead on the day, and getting the victims and witnesses to turn up when required. The strategy focuses upon meeting these components by underpinning:

• Underpinning accountability of CJS agencies

• Improving case preparation, progression and management

• Supporting witnesses and keeping them informed

• Making it easier for witnesses to give evidence

• Tackling witness intimidation

The success of the strategy will be measured by new targets to increase the number of offences brought to justice through each local CJS by 5%, and 17% by 2005 nationally.

Target audiences of the strategy include:

• The 42 local CJS boards

• Members of Crime and Reduction Disorder Partnerships

• Voluntary and Community Organisations

• The general public, victims and witnesses, particular groups ie. Ethnic minority etc.

Download Victims and Witnesses National Strategy  PDF 372kb