Interior Minister admits: Trust in the criminal justice system is “destroyed”

“This government will take a more active role in policing. We are determined to improve standards so that people feel they are listened to and action is taken when things go wrong.”

She promised to restore neighbourhood policing in all communities, give the police new powers to tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour and strengthen the role of the Victims’ Commissioner to hold the criminal justice system to account.

Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, warned that the poor treatment of victims, coupled with endless delays in police investigations and court hearings, was leading to a “worrying” number of people withdrawing from criminal justice.

“Perhaps the most worrying finding is the knock-on effect of justice system challenges on reporting behavior.

“For example, victims’ knowledge of low prosecution rates and limited resources discourages them from coming forward or even keeps them silent,” she said.

“The problem is exacerbated by the fact that victims are not aware of the most important rights under the Victims’ Code, such as the right to information about their case or the right to support services.

“Without this knowledge, victims are less likely to advocate effectively for themselves, leading to a cycle of frustration and unmet needs.”

Lady Newlove added: “Let me be clear: victims deserve better. They deserve a justice system that treats them fairly; a system in which their needs and rights are taken into account as much as those of the perpetrators.”

“At its core, it’s about appropriate treatment, procedural fairness and a thorough investigation. It’s about being seen and heard and getting the support they need to get justice and heal.”

Less than four in ten victims (38 percent) were convinced that the criminal justice system was fair. Only 27 percent thought it was effective.

The 40 percent of dissatisfied complained about inadequate police investigations into reported crimes, delayed arrival of the police and delayed investigations into reported crimes, as well as a lack of communication on the part of the police.

Almost half (46 percent) said that the police did not keep them regularly informed about the investigation and less than a quarter (22 percent) were given the opportunity to make a personal statement, a key right under the new Victims’ Code of Conduct.

One in three (33 percent) felt that it took too long for their case to come to court.

“No interest in prosecution”

A male victim in the East Midlands said: “They made it clear that they had no interest in prosecuting the individuals, even though they knew who they were and that they had committed the same crimes many times in the past.”

A female victim of a crime in the east of England said: “I was fobbed off by the police, they didn’t even bother to investigate. They told me it wasn’t a crime. It was. Then I had to report it. Then they realised a crime had taken place but they said too much time had passed and they weren’t at the scene.”

Another woman from the southeast said she had to “do all the investigations” after her car and that of her son were scratched. She provided video footage, identified the boys responsible and kept calling to urge police to investigate.

“They eventually talked to the boys, who admitted to the attempted vandalism, and their parents paid for the repairs. If I hadn’t done most of the work, I’m sure I’d still be waiting,” she said.

Lady Newlove made 15 recommendations in her report, including tighter monitoring of the implementation of the Victims’ Code, which was enshrined in law passed shortly before the election.

“Far too often, victims are not told or made aware of their entitlements,” she said. “This poor treatment leaves many victims feeling like they are just a straggler, and long delays in the justice system add to the frustration.”

“We must put an end to a culture in which victims’ rights are seen as ‘optional’ extras or ‘nice to have’ rather than as a central part of the administration of justice.”