Sara Payne's review of the criminal justice system
Dear all,
Today Sara Payne, the government's Victims' Champion, is publishing her nine-month review of the criminal justice system. There are three keys areas Mrs Payne is speaking to the media about - that victims should be at the heart of the criminal justice system and properly supported; that offenders should be channelled through the courts rather than being dealt with via ASBOs and FPNs; and that offenders should actually serve the sentence they are given.
We have issued the following statement to the media this morning:
Responding to the announcement made today by Sara Payne, the government's Victims' Champion, Simon Reed, Vice-Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:
"Mrs Payne is absolutely right to advocate the need for a review of the criminal justice system. We have long shared the same view that victims must be at the heart of the system and that includes care and support throughout the process. At the moment there seems to be an unnecessary and unbalanced focus on the needs and welfare of offenders at the expense of those they have targeted.
"Mrs Payne is also right to highlight the inadequacy of the sentencing structure whereby victims of crime are fooled into thinking that justice has been delivered only to discover that the folly of mid-term release and leniency means the actual sentence served is radically less than the sentence given. The time has come to ensure that persistent offenders are dealt with properly through the courts and not simply issued with fines and ASBOs, and that sentences given by judges are actually served in full."
Regards
Metin Enver
Head of Communications
The Police Federation of England and Wales
