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Justice 'must focus on victims' Justice 'must focus on victims'
(39 minutes later)
Child protection campaigner Sara Payne is calling on the government to "redefine" justice to give greater priority to victims of crime.Child protection campaigner Sara Payne is calling on the government to "redefine" justice to give greater priority to victims of crime.
Mrs Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered by a convicted paedophile, was named Victims' Champion in January.Mrs Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered by a convicted paedophile, was named Victims' Champion in January.
She wants victims to be given more help to deal with the impact of crime and says they need greater clarity about the jail terms offenders will serve.She wants victims to be given more help to deal with the impact of crime and says they need greater clarity about the jail terms offenders will serve.
The government has pledged to set up a victims service in England and Wales.The government has pledged to set up a victims service in England and Wales.
Mrs Payne has published a report after spending nine months speaking to victims and witnesses and studying front line services.Mrs Payne has published a report after spending nine months speaking to victims and witnesses and studying front line services.
She told the BBC: "In every single area you get treated in a different way. What we need to do is make sure that everybody has access to the same system that everyone else does.She told the BBC: "In every single area you get treated in a different way. What we need to do is make sure that everybody has access to the same system that everyone else does.
One-to-one care Sara Payne's recommendations Judges should make clear how long offenders will serve in prisonDrug use, criminal damage and verbal abuse cases should be criminal prosecutionsIncentives for criminals to plead guilty before trial
"It's not just about courts though. If we step back from that, 97% of people who report a crime never see a courtroom, so we need to think about what is justice for these people. 'Extremely lucky'
Sarah Payne was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000
"I think we are not inclusive of people - we don't ask people what they need and we really need to start doing that at an early stage."
Mrs Payne said her experience of the criminal justice system had been positive.Mrs Payne said her experience of the criminal justice system had been positive.
She said: "I was extremely lucky - I was treated with respect right from the start. From the minute of reporting Sarah going missing, I had support from everybody.She said: "I was extremely lucky - I was treated with respect right from the start. From the minute of reporting Sarah going missing, I had support from everybody.
I was included in the investigation. If you can do it for one person, you can do it for all."I was included in the investigation. If you can do it for one person, you can do it for all."
HAVE YOUR SAYSentencing is a joke - most criminals seem to serve around half their sentences, and this is an insult to the victims of their crimesAlice W, Bristol, UK Send us your comments
The report says that at present, justice is defined as "catching the criminal and protecting the public", and victims and witnesses feel they are included simply to "aid" that process.The report says that at present, justice is defined as "catching the criminal and protecting the public", and victims and witnesses feel they are included simply to "aid" that process.
Mrs Payne recommends that in future delivering justice should be about supporting the victim to overcome the impact of the crime so they can get on with their lives. In her report Ms Payne calls for some types of anti-social behaviour - criminal damage, drug use and verbal abuse - to be re-categorised as "criminal" behaviour and dealt with in the criminal courts.
She also wants more transparency in sentencing so that victims know exactly how long offenders will serve in prison. She says: "Something has gone deeply wrong that these types of behaviour... are classed as a form of nuisance and left to housing associations, landlords and local authorities to deal with."
The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, said Mrs Payne had been appointed Victims' Champion so that ministers would hear direct from victims. Sarah Payne was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000
Mrs Payne also calls for transparency in sentencing so that victims know exactly how long offenders will serve in prison.
She also calls for greater incentives for defendants to admit their crime before the case goes to trial.
The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, said Mrs Payne had been appointed Victims' Champion so that ministers would hear directly from victims.
He said: "There have been substantial improvements to services and support to victims, as Sara herself has acknowledged, but there is more to do and more we want to do."He said: "There have been substantial improvements to services and support to victims, as Sara herself has acknowledged, but there is more to do and more we want to do."
'Folly of mid-term release''Folly of mid-term release'
He said a National Victims Service was due to be launched next year and would eventually be expanded to offer practical, emotional and financial support to all victims of crime.He said a National Victims Service was due to be launched next year and would eventually be expanded to offer practical, emotional and financial support to all victims of crime.
Simon Reed from the Police Federation of England and Wales said Mrs Payne was "absolutely right" to call for a review of the criminal justice system.Simon Reed from the Police Federation of England and Wales said Mrs Payne was "absolutely right" to call for a review of the criminal justice system.
He said: "Victims must be at the heart of the system and that includes care and support throughout the process. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYSentencing is a joke - most criminals seem to serve around half their sentences, and this is an insult to the victims of their crimesAlice W, Bristol, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7195">Send us your comments
"Mrs Payne is also right to highlight the inadequacy of the sentencing structure whereby victims of crime are fooled into thinking that justice has been delivered only to discover that the folly of mid-term release and leniency means the actual sentence served is radically less than the sentence given." He added: "Victims of crime are fooled into thinking that justice has been delivered only to discover that the folly of mid-term release and leniency means the actual sentence served is radically less than the sentence given."
Mrs Payne's eight-year-old daughter was murdered in 2000 by known paedophile Roy Whiting.Mrs Payne's eight-year-old daughter was murdered in 2000 by known paedophile Roy Whiting.
Since then she has campaigned for a so-called "Sarah's Law", giving parents the right to know about convicted sex offenders living near them.Since then she has campaigned for a so-called "Sarah's Law", giving parents the right to know about convicted sex offenders living near them.
The campaign has resulted in pilot schemes in four police forces that allow parents or guardians to check whether people who have access to their children are convicted sex offenders.