Chronic underfunding of the criminal justice system has left victims facing a “bleak” picture, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales has warned.
Dame Vera Baird said radical action was needed to improve the justice system, with a lack of support for victims of crime and long delays leaving many victims – particularly rape victims – lacking the confidence that they would receive justice.
“There is chronic underfunding and an apparent lack of a strategic approach to improving the criminal justice system so it can deliver,” said Baird, after she had presented her annual report to parliament.
“I urge people to always report crime, but as to whether victims can have confidence that there will be a satisfactory outcome is very questionable just now.”
The report came as the government released its long-awaited violence against women and girls strategy (VAWG) on Wednesday, after 180,000 people responded to a consultation on women’s safety, the majority after the murder of Sarah Everard in March.
The home secretary, Priti Patel, indicated that she would support a…
