SOUTH YORKSHIRE VICTIMS ASKED TO TAKE PART IN NATIONAL SURVEY

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is asking victims of crime to take part in a survey on how they feel the parole process involves victims.

The survey will form part of a national review in to how effectively the parole process involves victims after the decision to release John Worboys – the taxi driver responsible for a number of sexual assaults in London.

The Commissioner is urging South Yorkshire victims, especially those with experience of sexual or violent crime to take part in the survey on behalf of Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner.  Baroness Newlove has been asked to undertake national engagement with victims. She wants to hear from all victims, but especially those who have been invited to join the Victim Contact Scheme.

The Victim Contact Scheme is run by the National Probation Service. It is designed to help a victim keep up to date with what is happening with their offender in the criminal justice system.  This would include changes to their sentence and when they will be released.

Dr Billings said: “I am supporting the review and the work of the Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove.  All too often the voice of the victim is not heard and they can sometimes be the last to know about the release of their offender.

“If you have been a victim of crime and would like to help shape how changes to engagement and communication with victims, then I urge you to complete the survey.

“The survey is very simple to complete and will not take much time.  It asks some simple questions about you, the victim and what your thought are about how the parole process should be communicated. It will ask for your opinion on being updated on the release of the offender and why.

“Victims can give vital information on the survey that will be fed back to the Ministry of Justice to help them understand some important elements of victim engagement after an offender has been sentenced.”

The survey is now closed.