INTERNATIONAL CHILD AND YOUTH CARE NETWORK

22 JULY 2003
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Support services for victims of crime are inconsistent across England and Wales

Victim support 'patchy' across UK

A report by the Probation Inspectorate was published as the government prepared to outline plans to give victims a better deal in the courts. Ideas are expected to include a "restorative justice" scheme, which includes face-to-face encounters between victims and offenders.

The Chief Inspector of Probation Rod Morgan looked at whether victims were kept informed about their case, and if their concerns about the offender had been passed onto the authorities. He said “a lot of very good work" was now taking place with some victims. He particularly praised the way victims of serious violent or sex offences were being routinely notified about release arrangements for offenders. But there was a lack of consistency across different areas.”

Guidance was required on working with victims from minority groups, including child victims. More work was also needed in making offenders understand the impact of their crime on the victim. And victims' views were not always reflected in reports for prisons and parole boards, he said.

Victims' commissioner
The ideas outlined by the Home Office on Tuesday will be put out for consultation, before being put in a Victims Bill planned to go before Parliament in the autumn. The Home Office says it wants to appoint a Victims' Commissioner to safeguard their rights. Ministers also plan to expand restorative justice projects which bring victims and offenders together.

The idea of restorative justice is to make an offender understand the impact of the crime, accept responsibility for their actions, and make reparations to the victim. At the same time it can help a victim come to understand more about the crime, and rebuild their confidence.

Several trial schemes have been running with youth offenders, and probation officials say they seem to have been successful so far. BBC News spoke to both a victim and an offender who said the meetings had been helpful.

Restorative justice
Stacey Hammond, 14, who had her mobile phone stolen when she was mugged last November by a group of girls, met one of her female attackers. Although the girl who mugged her did not say sorry, Stacey still thought asking her questions had helped rebuild her confidence. "I was very scared, I didn't go out for a few weeks because I was so scared, I thought it would happen again. "But since I met one of the girls I've brought up my confidence to actually go out."

Damian Divine, an offender who met his victims' parents and apologised to them, said it had made him rethink his life. "That meeting got me thinking... I used to do all these things before... it's about doing something right, aiming for something positive in your life," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3085511.stm

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