Keir Starmer: Victims' rights must be enshrined in law

Victims' rights will only be taken seriously once they are enshrined in law, the MP for Holborn and St. Pancras, Sir Keir Starmer QC, has declared.

The Victims of Crime Bill, a private member's Bill introduced by the former director of public prosecutions (DPP) and human rights barrister, is due to receive its second reading on 29 January.

Most notably, the proposed law provides victims a right of appeal against decisions to halt criminal investigations and imposes a mandatory duty to report suspected child abuse by those working in the teaching and healthcare professions.

The Bill was developed following Starmer's leading role in Labour's Victim's Taskforce, which made 14 recommendations to 'transform the criminal justice system into a criminal justice service'.

The taskforce was established in December 2013 by then Labour leader Ed Miliband and ex-shadow justice secretary - now London mayor hopeful - Sadiq Khan.

Speaking to the Guardian, Starmer said that victims should be at the heart of our criminal justice system: 'Victims' rights will only be taken seriously when they are enshrined in law. This is a radical, comprehensive Bill that would ensure victims are better supported, listened to and treated fairly.'

In an exclusive interview with SJ, the Doughty Street silk said the draft legislation will be the 'gold standard for any victims' Bill'.

'When it comes to sexual or physical violence, most victims don't have the confidence to come forward,' added Starmer. 'That's an absolute and fundamental problem. When victims do come forward, many, if not most, say they wouldn't do it again.

'If you've got a criminal justice system which is not being accessed by very many, and those that do say they're not going to again, that is a very powerful mandate for change. We can't carry on with our heads in the sand.'

Claire Waxman, founder of Voice4Victims, an anti-stalking charity, also told the newspaper that the criminal justice system discounted the rights of victims to save time and money.

In the lead up to the 2015 general election, both the Conservative and Labour parties promised to introduce a victims' law if elected.

It is now up to the government to decide whether to adopt Starmer's proposals or produce its own draft legislation to parliament.

The Victims of Crime Bill has already received cross-party support from members of the Tories, Greens, and Plaid Cymru.

Click here to read SJ's full interview with Starmer in which he discusses life at Westminster, the campaign to save the Human Rights Act, the Snooper's Charter, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Images copyright of Mary van der Luit Photography