Sara Payne new Victims' Champion!

[Libby]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7850785.stm

Child protection campaigner Sara Payne has been appointed to the new post of Victims' Champion.

The one-year post will provide an independent voice to the more than 1.5m yearly victims and witnesses of crime.

Mrs Payne's daughter Sarah, eight, was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting. Mrs Payne, from Surrey, was appointed an MBE in the New Year's Honours.

[minge tightly]

Hmmmm

That was the official response from Victim Support too

[Libby]

I take it you don't think Sara Payne's new post is a good idea minge?!

[minge tightly]

Personally I don't particuarly care Libby, but my employer (Victim Support) don't appear to be overly keen on the whole idea of the Victim's Champion as it treads on their toes, possibly undermines the 30+ years of work they have done as an independent organisation, isn't a particuarly independent role when it's funded & appointed by government and smacks a bit of tabloid populism.

From a victim's point of view, a louder voice will be appreciated i'm sure but let's not fool ourselves that she, or the role, will have much influence other than being a useful tool for spin.

[joliet]

What minge said

[Libby]

I understand what you say minge! I personally can't thank Victim Support enough - they were in my life and my three childrens' lives for four years. We were in the middle of a domestic violence case with my ex. They were wonderful. The lady we were assigned to was available 24/7 and we got to know her really well over the years. I am not sure we would've managed without her to be honest. She was a great confidante and advisor. She saw us through our entire case from beginning to end and then still checked on us after too. An angel for sure.

I am not sure entirely what Sara Payne's roll will be. I see it's only for one year any way. I saw her interviewed this morning on the tv, it seems she will act as mediator between support services and the government, is that right?!

[minge tightly]

Mind you, let's give her the benefit of the doubt as her objectives are obviously in the right place and I couldn't agree more with her when she says, "Let's put the victim at the heart of the criminal justice system"

[Libby]

I agree completely with her sentiment there. The trouble is these days, the perpetrator gets all the attention and the victim seems to get forgotten.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Can someone explain what putting the victim at the heart of the criminal justice system actually means?

[minge tightly]

It's nice to hear your thanks Libby and also good to hear that you got away from domestic violence. We've got a lot of dedicated people working and more importantly, volunteering with us, and they help out so many who are forgotten by the CJS.

The victim is not as left out as they used to be (And for that we should give grudging respect to this government for they have helped to improve our service and are, slowly, moving in the right direction) but they still receive, in comparison to the resources showered on the offender, scant support.

I'm not entirely sure what Sara Paynes day-to-day role is, although what you outlined sounds about right.

[minge tightly]

Jan 27, 2009 15:31:00 GMT VikingHumpingWitch said:

Can someone explain what putting the victim at the heart of the criminal justice system actually means?

Well, for example it could mean ensuring practises are in place for the police to treat victims a lot better than they often do, especially in sexual abuse cases.

It could mean the police responding to victim's fears better than they do. Often victims are fearful of retribution if an offender is still about and some ploice reassurance goes a long way.

It could mean courts having a greater understanding of the pressures witness's, especially those who are vunerable, are under and ensuring measures are in place to the process is as smooth as possible. We still hear of offenders and victims sharing the same waiting room at court for example.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Ah ok, well all that sounds great stuff. I was thinking along the lines of victims having a greater say in sentencing or whatever and I think that's probably Not Good.

[jonren]

Silly digression. - - - Alexandra Bastedo was a Champion. She is now sixty-three and still beautiful and desirable.

[minge tightly]

Quite often victims are a lot less rabid on sentencing than you might imagine. It's usually the family and friends who are baying for blood.

There is though, a great need for sentencing to be reviewed and standardised across the board, as it's one of the biggest underminers of the system in the eyes of the public. The magistrate who threw out a case because the victim was 'too believable' in comparison to the offender being just one recent, and gobsmacking, decision made in our courts.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Jan 27, 2009 15:53:46 GMT minge tightly said:

Quite often victims are a lot less rabid on sentencing than you might imagine. It's usually the family and friends who are baying for blood.

I find that easy to believe, in fact.

Your second point is unarguable, although I would say we also need to look at alternatives to prison, because they're already full and keeping people in longer won't be helping free up space.

[minge tightly]

Yeah the prison system is completely counter-productive in many ways (Although to be fair, for some offenders, it probably is the best place for them and all that they deserve) and for lesser offenders it would be better for rehabilitation to take place away from such an institution for the best chance of success - something many victims would prefer to vengance/punishment.

Unfortunately, the Mail and the Sun are too vocal and influential on government thinking for such alternatives to take off.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Ah yes, it all comes back to I hate this government.

[minge tightly]

Hehe yeah

In fairness though, they have been progressing things for victims, abliet slowly and very, very quietly

[omnipleasant]

I always think the overiding priority of the criminal justice system should be making sure the criminal doesn't offend again.

If that means getting medieval on some offenders, but sending others go-karting even if it offends victims and their relatives, then so be it, to be honest.

[minge tightly]

Then you'll be supporting the death penalty I presume since it is the one cast-iron guarantee of not reoffending. Eva