Victims' needs must be a priority for prosecutors
21 Oct 2005
The Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has launched a 10-point Prosecutors' Pledge, giving victims a clear commitment of the role the prosecutor will undertake on their behalf. They will make process clearer and be more responsive of the impact the crime has had on them and their families.
The pledge sets out how the prosecutors will protect the interests of victims from the point of charge right through to appeal. This will include considering the impact of the crime of the victim and their family when charging the defendant; clear and early information if a charge is withdrawn or the case is substantially changed and protection from unwarranted character attacks by the defendant's lawyer during the trial.
The Attorney General said:
"I am calling on all prosecutors to step up to this pledge and provide a better service to victims of crime. The government has modernised the criminal justice system to be more effective and to strike a balance that is fair to defendants and victims.
"At the heart of this reform is the sharp focus on the needs of victims and witnesses. We've done a lot to tackle crime and I acknowledge that victims need better protection in the criminal process. The Crown Prosecution Service, the biggest prosecutor in the country has already adopted the pledge."
The prosecutors' pledge has been published alongside the Attorney General's guidelines on the acceptance of pleas. This morning he visited a mock trial at Islington Green School as part of Inside Justice Week.
Students at the school held a courtroom drama run by the Youth Crime Roadshow which has been touring London as part of Inside Justice Week. Students from the school took part exploring the roles of the judge, victim of crime, defendant, witnesses, jury members and the press.
Senior prosecutors from the London division of the CPS also took part.