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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Victims of crime law planned by government | Victims of crime law planned by government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The rights of victims of crime in England and Wales are to be enshrined in law, the justice secretary has said. | The rights of victims of crime in England and Wales are to be enshrined in law, the justice secretary has said. |
| Chris Grayling says a Victims' Law will include the right for them to be kept informed about their case and to confront offenders in court. | Chris Grayling says a Victims' Law will include the right for them to be kept informed about their case and to confront offenders in court. |
| It would replace the existing code of practice and be the first time victims' rights were enshrined in law. | It would replace the existing code of practice and be the first time victims' rights were enshrined in law. |
| However, Labour accused the government of "letting down" victims, saying the plan looked "cobbled together". | However, Labour accused the government of "letting down" victims, saying the plan looked "cobbled together". |
| Range of support | Range of support |
| Under a reform of the law, publicly funded lawyers will also have to take specialist training before working on serious sex offence cases. | Under a reform of the law, publicly funded lawyers will also have to take specialist training before working on serious sex offence cases. |
| Mr Grayling said the current legal system could be daunting and traumatic for victims. | Mr Grayling said the current legal system could be daunting and traumatic for victims. |
| He said: "For the first time we will create a system that puts the highest emphasis on victims' needs and sets out their rights clearly in legislation." | He said: "For the first time we will create a system that puts the highest emphasis on victims' needs and sets out their rights clearly in legislation." |
| At the moment, victims can choose to tell the court and offender how a crime has impacted their life by reading out a statement to be taken into account by judges considering the sentence. | At the moment, victims can choose to tell the court and offender how a crime has impacted their life by reading out a statement to be taken into account by judges considering the sentence. |
| The Victim Information Service is set to include a helpline and website and the reforms could also see more powers given to watchdogs. | The Victim Information Service is set to include a helpline and website and the reforms could also see more powers given to watchdogs. |
| Mr Grayling said victims often found it difficult to know who to go to under the existing system and that having one source of information and help would make it easier for them. | Mr Grayling said victims often found it difficult to know who to go to under the existing system and that having one source of information and help would make it easier for them. |
| Such help would include tracking the progress of the case, applying for compensation, knowing what to expect in court, or understanding the range of support available, he said. | Such help would include tracking the progress of the case, applying for compensation, knowing what to expect in court, or understanding the range of support available, he said. |
| 'Clear message' | 'Clear message' |
| Mark Castle, chief executive of Victim Support, said he welcomed the measures. | Mark Castle, chief executive of Victim Support, said he welcomed the measures. |
| He said: "Our witness service team, who work behind the scenes in court, see every day just how distressing it can be... especially for victims of a violent or sexual crime. | He said: "Our witness service team, who work behind the scenes in court, see every day just how distressing it can be... especially for victims of a violent or sexual crime. |
| "Putting victims' rights in law sends a clear message to police, prosecutors and the courts that addressing the needs of victims is central to their work - it cannot be an optional extra. | "Putting victims' rights in law sends a clear message to police, prosecutors and the courts that addressing the needs of victims is central to their work - it cannot be an optional extra. |
| He said it was essential all lawyers had specialist training, particularly if a case involved cross-examining a child and stressed the charity would continue working with the legal profession to secure this. | He said it was essential all lawyers had specialist training, particularly if a case involved cross-examining a child and stressed the charity would continue working with the legal profession to secure this. |
| "We will continue to push for policy makers to make sure people affected by crime get the help they need and respect they deserve." | "We will continue to push for policy makers to make sure people affected by crime get the help they need and respect they deserve." |
| Last year, £29m from offenders in fines and confiscations was dedicated to boosting restorative justice. | Last year, £29m from offenders in fines and confiscations was dedicated to boosting restorative justice. |
| The Ministry of Justice said the programme helped cut the frequency of reoffending by 14%. | |
| But shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said the government had consistently "let down" victims. | But shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said the government had consistently "let down" victims. |
| He said the government had let them down by cutting compensation for innocent victims of violent crime and leaving the position of victims commissioner vacant for almost a year and then making the role part time. | He said the government had let them down by cutting compensation for innocent victims of violent crime and leaving the position of victims commissioner vacant for almost a year and then making the role part time. |
| Mr Khan said Downing Street had also wanted to reduce prison sentences by half if criminals entered a guilty plea, closed down rape centres and courts, and cut resources for Victim Support. | Mr Khan said Downing Street had also wanted to reduce prison sentences by half if criminals entered a guilty plea, closed down rape centres and courts, and cut resources for Victim Support. |
| "This announcement looks like it's been cobbled together on the back of an envelope, in the dying months of this government," he added. | "This announcement looks like it's been cobbled together on the back of an envelope, in the dying months of this government," he added. |
| Have you been a victim of crime and felt you needed more support and information about your case? Do you think you would have benefited from a Victims' Law? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been a victim of crime and felt you needed more support and information about your case? Do you think you would have benefited from a Victims' Law? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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