Appointment of Interim Victim’s Commissioner- What does this mean for victims of crime?
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter.
This week, the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, announced that Baroness Newlove has been appointed as the interim Victim’s Commissioner. Following Dame Vera Baird’s resignation in September 2022, the post had been left unfilled for a year.
The Lord Chancellor said that the interim post will last for a year, after which a permanent recruitment process will begin and a new Victim’s Commissioner will be appointed. The reason the Lord Chancellor has given for this interim solution is for the permanent role to be more reflective of the new responsibilities that will arise following the implementation of the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. We are disappointed that the full recruitment process will not take place until after the implementation of the Victims and Prisoners Bill as this would ensure continuity in the role and allow the chosen candidate to help shape the Bill and then oversee its implementation.
Having said this, we are pleased that the post has been filled and that victims of crime will have a representative at such a critical time and after such a long gap. We welcome Baroness Newlove back to the post, which she previously held between 2013 and 2019. She brings a direct experience of a serious crime to the role, as her husband Garry was murdered in 2007 – she said “I know first-hand the emotions and the pain victims experience on their journey through the criminal justice system.” It is encouraging to see that the post will be filled by someone who truly understands the needs and concerns of victims of crime and has past experience in the role.
Baroness Newlove has also been a supporter of Restorative Justice as a way for victims of crime to get the answers they need to move forward. We hope to see Baroness Newlove’s continued support for Restorative Justice in her upcoming term and look forward to working with her to champion wider access to such a crucial resource.
The Victims and Prisoners Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that could be transformative for the lives of people affected by crime. It is crucial that this opportunity to strengthen the rights of victims of crime is used to its full potential. Currently, there is no mention of Restorative Justice in the proposed Victims and Prisoners Bill, meaning it is harder for people affected by crime to access their right under the Victims Code. Through Why me?’s continuing role on the Restorative Justice Advisory Group to the Victim’s Commissioner, we look forward to working closely with Baroness Newlove to support the call for victims’ right to be referred to Restorative Justice. This will help people affected by crime to reliably access their rights, ensure that organisations are clear about their duties and are legally obliged to fulfil them, and will ensure further investment can ensure that everyone affected by crime can find out whether it’s right for them.