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The Minister of Justice has today been urged to act to give victims of crime the same rights as those in England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland when it comes to having a voice in court.
In a report published by the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime in Northern Ireland, the Minister has been urged to make it possible for victims of crime to read out their victim personal statement (VPS) if they wish to.
The report, Victim Personal Statements – Policy vs Practice, also includes recommendations on improving communications with victims about their entitlement to make a VPS, the introduction of a quality assurance mechanism and refresher training for all agencies involved.
A VPS is a formal opportunity for a victim to state in their own words how a crime has affected or continues to affect them and is usually used after a defendant pleads or is found guilty and before sentencing.
Victims of crime in Northern Ireland are not entitled to read out their statement in open court. Only a judge can read out a VPS, but this is entirely at their own discretion and they are not required to do so.
They can choose to include none, all or part of a VPS in their sentencing remarks, which can be published or reported on by the media. Victims of crime in England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland are currently given the opportunity to read out their statements in court.
The report sets out nine key recommendations and has been published on www.cvocni.org.
Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna said:
“So many victims have told me about how they feel like a bystander in their own criminal justice journey; how they have no agency or control over the process.
“Giving victims the opportunity to read out their victim personal statement in court, if they want to, is a powerful way for victims to have their voice heard and reclaim some of their agency.
“It’s great that victims are entitled to make these statements, now I want to see action taken to see them used as effectively as possible.
“There is a particular issue in the Magistrates’ Court where conviction and sentencing are often so close together that there isn’t time to take into consideration victim personal statements.
“That’s why I’m calling on the Minister and officials in her department to act to improve this process as a matter of urgency.
“We need to clearly set out the process by which victims can have their voice heard, so there is no confusion or inconsistency.
“We also need to see improvements to communication, to make sure all victims know about their entitlement to make a statement.
“It’s time to see a bit of ambitious thinking when it comes to victims issues. This does not have to be a complex issue and could make a huge difference to many victims.
“Our government in Stormont should act quickly to make this happen. We see it work in England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
“The longer this change doesn’t happen, the longer victims of crime here in Northern Ireland will be left behind their counterparts in those other jurisdictions.”