‘Progress made but victims and witnesses must remain a priority’ says Inspectorate
10/03/2008
A review of the findings of a report that called for improvements to be made to how victims and witnesses of crime were cared for by the criminal justice system has confirmed that significant steps have been made to improve the services that are available.
The follow-up review carried out by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI), found 25 of the 37 recommendations made in its 2005 report, Improving the provision of care for victims and witnesses, had been achieved.
“The launch of the Government’s five-year victims and witnesses strategy in September 2007 was a significant achievement, as it enshrined the principle of improving the services provided to victims and witnesses in Northern Ireland for years to come,” said Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.
“CJI welcomes the fact the strategy was supported by all agencies within the criminal justice system as well as Victim Support NI and the NSPCC, and we look forward to seeing progress being made in areas such as access to information, support provided to victims and witnesses and an improved quality of service.
“The Inspectorate is heartened by the work that has been undertaken so far in developing the victims and witnesses strategy, but Inspectors were disappointed that certain key recommendations contained in the original inspection report had not yet been advanced,” said the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
Mr Chivers said that a recommendation to develop a single point of contact - a one stop shop - where victims and witnesses could obtain support services, information relating to the progression of a case they were involved in or address any other information needs, had not made the hoped-for progress.
“It may be that new technology will make it possible to achieve this aim in a different way from that envisaged when we wrote the report (i.e. a virtual one-stop-shop), but however it is to be done, it requires urgent attention.
“Agencies also need to take steps to evaluate and improve special measures management for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Chivers continued: “No central evaluation has yet been attempted. This indicates to Inspectors that insufficient priority has been attached to one of the key recommendations contained in the report.”
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice praised the effort made towards addressing the needs of victims and witnesses and acknowledged the work undertaken by the Victims, Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses Steering Group (VVIW) in the follow-up review.
“The Government, and the agencies and organisations working within the criminal justice system, have shown they have listened to what victims and witnesses say they need, but this effort must be sustained in the future and supported by strong leadership and adequate resourcing.
“The continued delivery of the victims and witnesses strategy will require priorities to be established and targets set and included in annual plans to ensure developments continue,” he said.
“I would echo the words of the Minister for Criminal Justice Paul Goggins when he launched the victims and witnesses strategy: ‘The needs of victims and witnesses must continue to be given priority as they play a vital role in the criminal justice system. Without them, justice would simply not be done’,“ concluded Mr Chivers.