In this week’s briefing:
- The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warns that it will become increasingly difficult to keep Londoner’s safe if further cuts are made to the Metropolitan Police Service
- Director of the UK Fraud Advisory Panel, David Clarke, suggests that victims of bank transfer fraud should consider taking banks to court as ‘facilitators’ of the crime
- New ONS figures show there were over 10 million victims of crime last year
Politics
On 18 January, the Lords considered the Commons’ reasons for disagreeing to amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill proposed on 10 January. During the debate, Baroness Williams of Trafford (Minister of State at the Home Office), said the Government continues to have “serious concerns” regarding the substance of the Lords amendment to enforce police observance of the Victims’ Code (MPs disagreed with the amendment last week).
However, Baroness Williams went on to say that the Government “recognises there are concerns regarding the Victims’ Code” such as “a lack of awareness among victims of their rights under the code, and we are considering how we might address that … We want to ensure that any future reform proposals are evidence-based, fully costed, effective and proportionate. While the amendments are well intended, those are qualities that they do not possess”. She also said that to make further legislative changes in advance of the Government setting out its strategy for victims (which will be within the next 12 months) would be “inappropriate”.
On 18 January, the Commons Justice Committee held its first evidence session on its sub-inquiry into governor empowerment and prison performance. The Committee considered issues including the pace of devolution of responsibilities to governors and their responsibility for commissioning services.
The Lords Constitution Committee published its report on the Digital Economy Bill. The Committee raised concern that the Bill does not set out how introducing a regime whereby access to online pornography will be subject to age-verification requirements will work in practice. The report adds: “We are concerned that the extent to which the Bill leaves the details of the age-verification regime to guidance and guidelines to be published by the as yet-to-be-designated regulator adversely affects the ability of the House effectively to scrutinise this legislation”. The Committee advised that consideration should be given to adding more detail to the face of the Bill.
On 17 January, Dominic Raab MP led a debate in the House of Commons on UK police force support for investigations of murder of UK nationals abroad. In response to concerns about the level of support provided to bereaved families in these situations, the Minister for Policing and Fire Service (Brandon Lewis) said “it is simply not possible to support investigations in another country without its permission”. He added: “There will also be circumstances when support is requested by a host Government, but it does not meet the expectations of bereaved families or does not go far enough to address their concerns”.
The week ahead:
- 23 January – House of Commons. Oral questions Home Office, including Topical Questions
- 23 January – House of Commons. Adjournment debate. Sex and relationship education – Mrs Maria Miller
- 24 January – House of Commons. Oral questions Justice, including Topical Questions
Commissioning Public Services
A new report by the think-tank Reform has found that the process of commissioning public services across health and social care, criminal justice, housing and homelessness, and employment, is “complex and overlapping” and “fails to most effectively address citizens’ needs”. The report argues that despite much rhetoric around outcome-based commissioning, in reality the approach taken by many commissioners is more along the lines of one-size-fits-all.
Policing
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said that it will become increasingly difficult to keep people in London safe if the Government makes further cuts to the Metropolitan Police Service. He said: “Keeping Londoners safe is my first priority as Mayor. That means keeping police officer numbers as high as possible, especially in the wake of recent horrific attacks in Berlin and Istanbul. But in the face of continued pressures on the police budget, exacerbated and deepened by central Government, this is becoming increasingly difficult”.
Fraud
David Clarke, Director of the UK Fraud Advisory Panel and former police officer, has suggested that victims of bank transfer fraud should consider taking banks to court as ‘facilitators’ of the crime. He said: “Where someone is defrauded we need to ask if the bank could have prevented it. If the answer is yes, the banks should be viewed as having facilitated the crime.” However, he recognised that victims would need to carefully consider with a lawyer whether this is the right approach to take as court costs could be higher than the money lost as a result of fraud and there is no guarantee of winning the case.
Victim Personal Statement (VPS)
The Victims’ Commissioner (Baroness Newlove) published the findings of her review into the VPS. Based on an analysis of data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales between April 2013 and March 2016, it showed that only 15% of victims were offered a chance to make a VPS in 2015/16. The review also found that older victims (aged 65-74), victims of violent attacks and victims in the East of England are less likely to be offered a VPS than victims overall.
Statistics
The latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)were published on 19 January. In the year ending September 2016, there were an estimated 6.2 million incidents ofcrime (excluding fraud and cyber). This is not a statistically significant change on last year. Other main findings include:
- There were 3.6 million fraud and 2.0 million computer misuse offences
- A total of 11.8 million incidents of crime
- Including fraud and computer misuse, there were 10.1 million victims of crime. This is 22% of the population
- There were 4.3 million victims of fraud and computer misuse
- Those aged 25-34 are most likely to be a victim of fraud
- The police recorded 4.7 million offences, an annual rise of 8%
- An estimated 12% of children (aged 10-15) were victims of at least one crime
- There were 695 homicides, a 22% (125) increase on last year. However, these statistics include the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster
“We know that cybercrime and fraud can have a devastating impact, both financially and emotionally, on victims’ lives. Many victims blame themselves or feel too embarrassed to come forward and get help but this shouldn’t be the case. We want to encourage people to seek the help they may need and get the justice they deserve.”
The Home Office published data tables presenting statistics for police recorded crime outcomes in England and Wales for the year ending September 2016.
The week ahead:
- 26 January – The Home Office will publish ‘Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2016’
- 26 January – The Ministry of Justice will publish ‘Offender Management statistics: July to September 2015’
- 26 January – The Ministry of Justice will publish ‘Proven reoffending statistics: April 2014 to March 2015
- 26 January – The Youth Justice Board will publish ‘Youth Justice Statistics: 2015 -2016’
Hate Crime
Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, David Isaac, warned this week that when Article 50 is triggered it could lead to a surge in hate crime.
Prison Population
The Ministry of Justice published the latest prison population figures for 2017. They show that the total prison population is 84,874, of which 80,979 are male and 3,895 are female.
Feature of the Week
New drop-in hub for victims of crime in Huddersfield
A new drop-in hub for victims of crime in Huddersfield will launch on Monday 23 January and the public have been invited to come along to talk to staff and find out about the free and confidential support that’s offered.
The Kirklees Supporting Victims hub provides a dedicated drop-in space where Victim Support, the Police, Safer Kirklees Community Partnership and other community agencies work together to ensure victims of crime are supported regardless of race, gender, sex, disability, religion or age.
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: "I have been working in partnership to set up victims’ hubs across West Yorkshire so that victims and witnesses have a designated place to go for information, advice and support.
“I am delighted to have provided matched partnership funding towards this project in Kirklees. I have pledged to put victims first in West Yorkshire and this new service in Kirklees does exactly that in providing further access to victims services in Huddersfield and across Kirklees.
“It’s crucial that we work together to provide the best possible services and Safer Kirklees and Victim Support have been instrumental in bringing this new help for victims and witnesses to the people of Kirklees.”
Diane Pae, Operational Manager for Victim Support in Huddersfield said: “We’re pleased to be expanding the support we already provide for people affected by crime in Kirklees. This new hub means people will have easier access to our free and confidential support because they can just drop-in to speak to one of our specially trained staff or volunteers.”
For more information about the hub please email Diane Pae.
Pictured: Mark Burns-Williamson and Diane Pae.
VS Policy Update Editor: Alexandra Barker
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