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Online reporting for non-emergency crimes to help victims “navigate” criminal justice system (6 February 2015)

Date: 06/02/2015
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Online reporting for non-emergency crimes to help victims “navigate” criminal justice system

Home Secretary Theresa May has announced plans for non-emergency crimes to be reported online, which could save the police force around £3.7 million annually.

The measure would also save around 180,000 hours of police time spent making crime reports in police stations, if all police forces switch to an online reporting system for non-emergency crimes.

Non-emergency crimes already have a dedicated phoneline where crimes which do not require immediate police attendance can be reported.

The Ministry of Justice has also announced online tracking to enable victims of crime to check the progress of an investigation. The website TrackMyCrime will allow victims of crime to communicate with the investigating officer handling their case.

The crime tracking system was developed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary and was acquired by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in 2014.

The justice department is keen to make the criminal justice system more accessible to victims of crime and witnesses – including court procedures and giving evidence in court.

There have been calls for more virtual courts to be used, enabling witnesses, defendants and prisoners to give evidence using Internet technology such as Skype and emails without having to attend court.

Prisoners giving evidence by Internet link would also save the Ministry of Justice thousands of pounds in the cost of transporting prisoners to courts and taking them back to prison.

An independent review by Baroness Newlove has criticised the justice system for “letting victims down”.

Baroness Newlove is conducting a series of reviews involving the criminal justice system as the government’s Victims’ Commissioner. In her first report she found that, out of 200 victims questioned, more than 75% were unhappy with the service they received – and more than 50% found the system for making complaints about a particular agency in the criminal justice system “difficult”.

Baroness Newlove told BBC News that crime victims are being “re-victimised” by the difficulty of navigating the criminal justice system.

“All it takes is basic human decency to explain to a victim – in a sensitive and timely way – why something has gone wrong and what they can do about it,” she said.

“It is shocking how many victims told me how ignored, dismissed and confused they felt when they tried to raise concerns about their treatment.”

The Home Secretary’s measures to introduce online reporting of non-emergency crimes are designed to make it easier for the public to access the criminal justice system.

The government is also introducing a Victims’ Information Service across the country – it is anticipated it will be rolled out by March this year.

Duncan Lewis Civil Liberties Solicitors – Victims of Crime Compensation Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of human rights and civil liberties solicitors and can advise victims of crime how to make a compensation claim from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for injuries received as a result of criminal activity.

Claims for injuries received as a result of violent crime have to be made within two years of the event. Duncan Lewis can also advise bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of violent crime on how to claim.

It is a requirement that the crime has been reported – with a crime reference number issued by the police.

In historic cases involving child sexual exploitation, physical abuse or child abuse, it may also be possible to make a claim – including a claim in the civil court against the estate of an abuser who has died, or a claim against a sexual or physical abuser who has recently been convicted.

For expert legal help with making Victims of Crime Compensation Claims, call Duncan Lewis civil liberties solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


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