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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| National Victims Service launched | National Victims Service launched |
| (28 minutes later) | |
| The relatives of manslaughter and murder victims will be the first to benefit from a new £8m support scheme, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said. | The relatives of manslaughter and murder victims will be the first to benefit from a new £8m support scheme, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said. |
| The National Victims Service, launching officially in April, will offer victims a dedicated support worker to help them get access to any assistance they need. | The National Victims Service, launching officially in April, will offer victims a dedicated support worker to help them get access to any assistance they need. |
| Mr Straw called the scheme for England and Wales a "defining moment". | Mr Straw called the scheme for England and Wales a "defining moment". |
| The service is being created in response to a report from Sara Payne, the government's "Victims' Champion". | The service is being created in response to a report from Sara Payne, the government's "Victims' Champion". |
| Intensive support | Intensive support |
| In a speech to the Royal Society for the Arts, Mr Straw promised the service would make support for victims a "core function" of the criminal justice system rather than an "optional add-on". | In a speech to the Royal Society for the Arts, Mr Straw promised the service would make support for victims a "core function" of the criminal justice system rather than an "optional add-on". |
| He outlined plans to offer victims a "health check" to determine their needs and give the most vulnerable intensive support. | He outlined plans to offer victims a "health check" to determine their needs and give the most vulnerable intensive support. |
| "The aim is that, for the first time, victims will be given support from the moment they report a crime or anti-social behaviour until the moment they say they no longer need help," he said. | "The aim is that, for the first time, victims will be given support from the moment they report a crime or anti-social behaviour until the moment they say they no longer need help," he said. |
| "The National Victims Service will provide for anyone who has been a victim of crime and who wants assistance. | "The National Victims Service will provide for anyone who has been a victim of crime and who wants assistance. |
| "If victims need help, we will be there for them." | "If victims need help, we will be there for them." |
| It is a pity that it has taken the common sense approach of a mother who lost her young daughter in tragic circumstances to tell the government the direction it needed to take on this issue David Howarth MP | It is a pity that it has taken the common sense approach of a mother who lost her young daughter in tragic circumstances to tell the government the direction it needed to take on this issue David Howarth MP |
| Gillian Guy, chief executive of Victim Support, said the service would build on the work the charity had been doing for the past 35 years. | Gillian Guy, chief executive of Victim Support, said the service would build on the work the charity had been doing for the past 35 years. |
| However Dominic Grieve, the shadow justice secretary, said: "This re-heated announcement only highlights the gulf between this government's promises and its action. | However Dominic Grieve, the shadow justice secretary, said: "This re-heated announcement only highlights the gulf between this government's promises and its action. |
| "Gordon Brown has let over 70,000 criminals out of jail early, and plans to force through lighter sentences for serious criminals - what kind of justice is that for victims?" | "Gordon Brown has let over 70,000 criminals out of jail early, and plans to force through lighter sentences for serious criminals - what kind of justice is that for victims?" |
| 'Common sense' | 'Common sense' |
| His Liberal Democrat counterpart, David Howarth MP, praised the scheme but said it should have been in place long ago. | His Liberal Democrat counterpart, David Howarth MP, praised the scheme but said it should have been in place long ago. |
| He said: "This scheme is excellent in that it recognises the fact that victims of crime need help from the moment they are targeted until they decide it is no longer necessary. | He said: "This scheme is excellent in that it recognises the fact that victims of crime need help from the moment they are targeted until they decide it is no longer necessary. |
| But it is a pity that it has taken the common sense approach of a mother who lost her young daughter in tragic circumstances to tell the government the direction it needed to take on this issue." | But it is a pity that it has taken the common sense approach of a mother who lost her young daughter in tragic circumstances to tell the government the direction it needed to take on this issue." |
| Mrs Payne - who is recovering after suffering a brain aneurysm before Christmas - published her report calling for the new service after spending nine months speaking to victims and witnesses and studying front-line services. | Mrs Payne - who is recovering after suffering a brain aneurysm before Christmas - published her report calling for the new service after spending nine months speaking to victims and witnesses and studying front-line services. |
| Her eight-year-old daughter Sarah was murdered in 2000 by known paedophile Roy Whiting. | Her eight-year-old daughter Sarah was murdered in 2000 by known paedophile Roy Whiting. |
| Since then she has campaigned for a "Sarah's Law", giving parents the right to know about convicted sex offenders living near them. | Since then she has campaigned for a "Sarah's Law", giving parents the right to know about convicted sex offenders living near them. |
| The Ministry of Justice has also announced that a review of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime is due to take place. | The Ministry of Justice has also announced that a review of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime is due to take place. |
| This code outlines the legal rights victims can expect from UK criminal justice agencies. | This code outlines the legal rights victims can expect from UK criminal justice agencies. |
| The department also said it should now be easier for voluntary agencies that provide services to sexual violence victims to apply for funding from the government. | The department also said it should now be easier for voluntary agencies that provide services to sexual violence victims to apply for funding from the government. |