Many people reading this will have attended one of my crime forums around the Chippenham constituency – events I organised to make sure that our strategy for tackling crime focusses on victims and communities as a priority. Recent news headlines have illustrated just how important this is, showing that victims must be listened to and put first so that justice can be done swiftly.
In meetings with both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary earlier this year, I made the case for a new, victim-focussed crime strategy that will protect the most vulnerable in our society from crime. I am delighted to report that if we have a Conservative majority government after 12th December, a new victim-focussed crime strategy will be implemented. This includes:
- Supporting rape victims with a £15million cash boost to speed-up charging decisions, cut delays and offer victims more support during the process.
- Protecting domestic abuse victims by passing our Domestic Abuse Bill by Spring 2020 and implementing it quickly.
- Enshrining the rights of victims in law - with a Victims’ Law which that guarantees their rights and the level of support they should receive.
- Comprehensive reform of the parole system to make it more transparent for victims.
- A ‘victim surcharge’ to be paid by convicted offenders, which goes straight to victim services.
- 20,000 new Police officers to prevent crime before it takes place.
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