Tag: communications

• 5,500 places to be created for young people to join uniformed youth groups
• Funding will support expansion and development of new groups

A new £5 million fund will increase places in uniformed youth groups to reach vulnerable young people and allow for expansion in deprived areas, Minister for Civil Society Tracey Crouch announced.

An estimated 5,500 spaces will be created in groups such as police cadets, Scouts, Guides and faith-based organisations to help reduce waiting lists for these in-demand local clubs.

The fund will help organisations open new groups in deprived areas across England and allow more children to benefit from weekly activities, camps or volunteering programmes – helping to boost their wellbeing, mental health and life skills.

In addition, the Uniformed Youth Fund, will provide more opportunities for adults to get involved in projects and volunteer their time in order to grow and sustain groups in their community.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said:

Organisations like the Guides and Sea Cadets play a key role in so many childhoods. They create lasting friendships and teach important life skills such as teamwork and resilience.

This fund strengthens our support for young people by ensuring that even more children have access to these groups and are helped to reach their full potential.

Samantha Hyde, Director at Youth United Foundation, said:

We are delighted to be able to expand our important work with children and young people living in the some of the most deprived regions in the country, providing them with the opportunity to join a uniformed youth group and, as a result, gain a range of life-changing skills and experiences.

We strive to increase opportunities in areas and communities where there are least provisions and the most need, to ensure that young people of all backgrounds are able to succeed.

The Fund will be distributed and managed by Youth United Foundation, a member organisations for uniformed youth groups.

The Fund will also lay the foundations for groups to continue to expand and tackle waiting lists beyond the current financial year.

The announcement follows the recent Civil Society Strategy where the government promised to work alongside uniformed youth groups to consider how they can expand in disadvantaged areas.

ENDS

For more information please call the DCMS press office: 0207 2112210

Notes to editors:

Youth United Foundation Network collectively work with 1.5 million young people and is formed of 11 uniformed youth organisations, including: Army Cadets Force, Boys’ Brigade, Fire Cadets, Girls’ Brigade, Girlguiding, Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade, Royal Air Force Cadets, St. John Ambulance, Sea Cadets, The Scout Association and Volunteer Police Cadets.

Youth United Fund’s mission is to give every young person, regardless of economic or ethnic background, the opportunity to join a uniformed youth group.

Support for victims of crime will be overhauled following the launch of the first ever cross-government Victims Strategy.

The Justice Secretary today set out how the government will ensure that support for victims – including those of violent offences such as terrorism and child sexual abuse – is aligned to the changing nature of crime, and boost services at every stage of the justice system.

The strategy makes clear the specific support victims can expect – beginning immediately after a crime, and ending long after any court proceedings. The government currently spends roughly £200 million per year on support services for victims of crime.

Today’s launch also serves as the next step in the delivery of Manifesto commitments to establish an Independent Public Advocate for victims of public disasters and enshrine victims’ entitlements in law.

Commenting on the importance of this work to the government, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

Nothing can take away the distress and trauma of being a victim of crime, but ensuring people get the support they need as they rebuild their lives is vital.

How we support victims is fundamental to a caring society, and in recognition of that we are taking steps to enshrine their rights in law for the very first time.

The duty of a government is to keep people safe, but it is not enough to simply bring offenders to court. Victims need to know they are protected and listened to, and we will continue to work with charities and support groups to improve their experience.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said:

Many of us will be lucky enough to not have to encounter the justice system as a victim of crime – but those who do must not also become a victim of the process.

We will enshrine victims’ entitlements in law by beginning a consultation early next year, and otherwise seek to boost the Victims’ Code.

This strategy addresses the changing nature of crime, and sets out the support victims should receive at every stage of their journey through the justice system – from providing statements to police, appearing in court or in front of the Parole Board, and every step in between.

Key aspects of the strategy

The strategy sets out how the government will:

• Consult on a revised Victims’ Code to ensure entitlements better reflect the needs of victims and the changing nature of crime. For example, we will reduce the points of contact for victims through reviewing the roles and responsibilities of agencies that support victims, and review support for victims of mentally disordered offenders.
• Consult on a Victims’ Law to underpin the code, which will include strengthening the Victims’ Commissioner’s powers. We will launch a consultation in early 2019, with the aim of an amended code being in place in 2019.
• Consult on the establishment of an Independent Public Advocate (IPA) to help bereaved families following a disaster. They will help guide families throughout an investigative process, ensuring their voices are heard at inquests, and that they are directed to appropriate support services.
• Review the entire Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) so it reflects the changing nature of crime – particularly around applications relating to child sexual abuse and terrorism. We will consider reform of the eligibility criteria, and will abolish the unfair and arbitrary pre-1979 ‘same roof rule.’ We will launch a consultation by early 2019 on a review of the scheme.
• Improve communication and support for victims during the parole process. We will simplify the Victim Contact Scheme and improve the quality of communication; allow Victim Personal Statements at parole hearings; and roll out revised training for Victim Liaison Officers.

Significant progress has been made to address the causes of crime, including the work announced in the Serious Violence Strategy, and the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act.

But ministers are clear that more must be done for victims. For example, fewer than 20% of victims were aware of the Victims’ Code, which sets out the minimum entitlements and services they should receive by law. Only 15% said they were given the opportunity by the police to make a Victim Personal Statement.

Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales said:

This is a timely focus on the needs and rights of victims, and is a major step forward towards ensuring they receive the care, support and justice they deserve.

Victims consistently tell me that they feel their status in the criminal justice system is not comparable with that of the offender. As Victims’ Commissioner I have long been calling for a Victims Law to ensure that the rights of victims are central to the delivery of our justice system.

I welcome this Victims’ Strategy which brings us a step closer to seeing a Victims Law on the statute books. Such a law will mean that no victim in the future will have to fight for the support they’re entitled to.

I will continue to push government to ensure that victims whose lives may be devastatingly transformed by the crime committed against them, are afforded the rights they so justly deserve.

Diana Fawcett, Chief Officer of the independent charity Victim Support, said:

As the national charity for victims we welcome the steps set out today to bring forward a Victims’ Law and to strengthen the Victims’ Code. We are also pleased that the government has announced a much-needed review of criminal injuries compensation for victims.

We have worked closely with the government as they’ve developed their strategy and we look forward to continuing this, to ensure that the reforms truly work for victims.

The strategy sets out new policy, and brings together existing funding commitments made by various government departments.

The strategy also outlines plans to improve support for victims of major tragedies to ensure that the painful experience of the Hillsborough families is not replicated.

Further measures in the strategy include:

• Commitments to increase spending from £31 million in 2018 to £39 million in 2020/21 to improve services for victims of sexual violence and abuse who seek support from Sexual Assault Referral Centres.
• Greater support for families bereaved by homicide, including new funding for advocacy support for families bereaved by domestic homicide.
• Boosting the number of Registered Intermediaries – communication experts helping vulnerable victims and witnesses give their best evidence at police interview and trial – by 25%.
• Improving court environments, with new victim-friendly waiting areas and an emphasis on accessibility for the most vulnerable.
• Keeping the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme under review, and considering an extension so victims and the public can have sentences reconsidered by the Court of Appeal.
• Focus on better enforcement of the Victims’ Code, with increased responsibility for Police and Crime Commissioners in monitoring the delivery of services.
• The creation of a short, user-friendly overview of the Victims’ Code in hardcopy and electronic formats.
• Developing a new delivery model for victim support services, and coordinating funding across government.

Notes to editors

• This strategy marks the latest milestone in improving the support for victims and builds on important progress over the last few years:
  • In 2006, The Code of Practice for Victims (the Victims’ Code) established for the first time in law services that must be provided to victims of crime in England and Wales by criminal justice agencies.
  • In 2010, the first Victims’ Commissioner was appointed. The statutory position was set up to champion the interests of victims and witnesses and encourage good practice in their treatment.
  • ‘Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses’ was published in 2012 and set out the government’s approach for making sure victims and witnesses get the support they need.
  • The creation of the Victims’ Panel to represent the voice of victims in government policy making.
  • Wider provision of special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses many of whom are victims.
  • Seeking new laws and stronger powers to protect and support survivors of domestic abuse.
  • Creating new offences to protect more victims and bring offenders to justice including: revenge porn, coercive or controlling behaviour, and sexual communication with a child.
• The latest Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) estimates suggest one in five adults experienced crime in the year ending March 2018.
• Despite crime having fallen since the mid-1990s, the types of offences being committed are changing. Fraud and cyber offences now make nearly half of all crime in England and Wales. Additionally, more victims are coming forward to report crimes that have traditionally been under-reported. For instance, reported sex crimes have risen by nearly a quarter in a year, with demand for male rape support services rising 176% in the last three years.
• There has been a sharp rise in serious violence, with police recorded knife crime up by 16% in England and Wales in 2017/18 and the number of homicides rose by 12% in the same period. In London, acid attacks have more than doubled since 2014. The government’s Serious Violence Strategy, published in April, puts a stronger focus on steering young people away from violence, whilst continuing to ensure the strongest possible response from law enforcement agencies.
• In April the Justice Secretary published findings of a review of parole processes, and measures to increase its transparency and improve the treatment of victims. One immediate step has been to change the rules to allow the Parole Board to explain its decisions to victims, media and the public. Since this change, the Parole Board has received over 850 requests for summary decisions.
• The government’s intention to establish an Independent Public Advocate (IPA) “for victims of public disasters” was outlined in the 2017 Conservative Party Manifesto and confirmed in the Queen’s Speech. The consultation, launched today, seeks views on the remit and powers of the IPA and closes on 3 December.
• Stakeholder engagement on the review of Victims’ Code, strengthening the Victims’ Commissioner’s powers and the Victims’ Law will commence in the coming weeks, with a view to a formal public consultation in early 2019, and an amended Code being in place in 2019.
• The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme awards taxpayer-funded payments to victims injured as a result violent crime, paying out more than £150 million to victims in 2017/18. Full details of the review of the scheme will be announced in due course, with a public consultation to be launched in early 2019.

Police will be able to stop and search people they suspect of carrying a corrosive substance in public places, under Home Office proposals published in a consultation today.

This suggested strengthening of police powers will enable officers to better prevent acid attacks and is part of the government’s efforts to tackle violent crime and protect the public.

The Home Office has also commissioned scientists at the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to develop a portable kit so that police can test suspected corrosive substances on the street. The kit, which is backed by police leaders, will enable officers to determine on the spot whether an individual is carrying a corrosive substance and take immediate action to help stop life-threatening acid attacks.

It follows the introduction earlier this year of the Offensive Weapons Bill, which will create a new offence of possessing a corrosive substance in a public place.

Existing powers allow police officers to stop and search an individual where they suspect the person is in possession of a corrosive substance and is intent on causing injury.

But the proposed extension of powers will enable police to search anyone they suspect is carrying a corrosive substance in a public place, enabling them to take better preventative action.

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Nick Hurd said:

Acid attacks are appalling acts of violence that devastate lives and can have fatal consequences.

A bottle of acid can be as lethal as a knife or a firearm, and these new powers will enable police officers to prevent these despicable thugs from carrying out their terrible crimes.

The Home Secretary has been clear that stop and search is a vital and effective policing tool when used correctly. We will always seek to give police the powers they need to crack down on violent crime and bring perpetrators to justice.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Corrosive Attacks, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Kearton, said:

The use of acid to commit acts of violence is particularly abhorrent – perpetrators aim to leave their victims with horrific and life-changing injuries.

Tackling the scourge of acid attacks requires a coordinated approach across a number of different organisations and sectors. I support proposals to extend stop and search powers, so that they cover individuals suspected of carrying a corrosive substance in public without good reason.

Stop and search is ultimately a safeguarding power – we use it to prevent crime, identify those who intend to cause harm and disrupt serious and organised crime networks. Officers should be confident to use stop and search – proportionately and respectfully – because it’s an important investigative tool.

The Home Office is also consulting on proposals to give police greater powers to stop and search people over the misuse of drones and laser pointers, both of which are on the increase.

The number of incidents of drones coming close to manned aircraft, which has potentially catastrophic consequences, rose to 93 in 2017.

Critical national infrastructure, sensitive sites, defence establishments, large-scale events and crowded public places face a potential threat of criminal or hostile drone activity.

The use of drones to smuggle contraband into prisons is also increasing.

Similarly, the misuse of laser pointers against vehicles is a growing concern. Since 2010, there have been more that 1,000 incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft reported to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Shining a laser at a vehicle and dazzling or distracting the person in control became a specific offence under the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018.

Extending stop and search powers to cover offences under the Laser Misuse (Vehicle) Act 2018 and Air Navigation Order 2016 and Prisons Act 1952 are intended to enable more effective enforcement, targeting those individuals who are intent on causing harm.

Mark Swan, Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

Illegally-used drones and lasers are a very real safety risk to aircraft, particularly during critical phases of flight, such as take-off and landing.

Laws are now in place to protect aircraft from both drones and laser pointers, and we support efforts by the police to enforce these laws.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

As we enter the High Holidays, I wish a happy and sweet New Year to all Jewish communities in Britain and around the world.

For our Jewish friends in Israel, this has been a year of landmarks, including the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, the 70th Anniversary of Israel’s statehood, and the first British royal visit, made by HRH The Duke of Cambridge in June.

This is also a special occasion for the UK’s Jewish community. At a time when many worry about the corrosive impact of anti-Semitism, I want to reiterate our rejection of such ugly intolerance. We are proud of Britain’s Jewish community, who make such a positive contribution to all aspects of our society and to public life. Long may that continue.

So I wish all those celebrating in the UK, and beyond, Shana Tova and Chatima Tova. Here’s to a prosperous and healthy year!

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @Jeremy_Hunt
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

The Justice Secretary has today announced a full review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to ensure it reflects the changing nature of crime and can better support victims. The plans are set out in the first ever cross-government Victims Strategy, which will be launched tomorrow (10 September). The strategy will coordinate the already extensive government support for victims of crime to focus support and services around the individual.

Ministers have ordered this review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) to improve access to compensation, and to consider how the scheme might better serve victims – especially victims of child sexual abuse and terrorism. The review will begin immediately and is expected to report in 2019 with recommendations for reform.

The CICS awards taxpayer-funded payments to victims injured as a result violent crime, and paid out more than £150 million to victims in 2017/18. This scheme is just one way in which victims are supported, with other ways including rehabilitation, psychological care, and outreach support.

More victims of violent crime will be able to receive the compensation to which they are entitled and ministers also committed to abolishing the pre-1979 ‘same-roof’ rule of the CICS. This is especially relevant for victims of historic child abuse.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said:

Whilst no amount of compensation can make up for the immense suffering endured by victims of violent crime, it is vital they receive the help and support needed to rebuild their lives.

Today I’m announcing that we will review the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to ensure it reflects the changing nature of crime and can better support victims, especially of historic and current child abuse. Over the years we’ve seen more prosecutions for sexual offences and sadly experienced the horror of terrorism. We need to make sure these victims get the awards they’re due so we will be looking to ensure the criteria are appropriate.

We will also scrap the pre-1979 ‘same roof rule’ which unfairly blocked some victims from compensation.

These two measures will ensure that victims of violent crime will get the compensation to which they are entitled.

The review will look at concerns around the eligibility rules of the scheme, the sustainability of the scheme and the affordability of any changes to be made.

The review will also enable the government to take full account of recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

The review will look at issues in CICS, including:

• time limits for applications – the scheme’s time limit requires that applications be made by a person over 18 as soon as practicable and no later than 2 years after the date of the incident. It is suggested that victims of child sex abuse disproportionately delay reporting such crimes and applications for compensation, and therefore miss out on compensation.
• the ‘same roof’ rule – we will remove the pre-1979 rule and we will consider further changes to the remaining ‘same roof’ rule and previous failed applications. In July 2018, the Court of Appeal decided that the pre-1979 ‘same roof’ rule had unfairly denied a claimant who was abused as a child by her stepfather the right to compensation. The government agreed with the judgement and has decided to abolish the pre-1979 ‘same roof’ rule and will not appeal the decision.
• unspent convictions – the scheme automatically excludes an award if the applicant has an unspent conviction which resulted in a specified sentence (custodial sentence, community order or youth rehabilitation order). It is suggested the rules disproportionately impact vulnerable victims of child sex abuse who may have offended in response to being abused/exploited/groomed.
• crime of violence– the scheme sets out what constitutes a crime of violence for the purposes of assessing entitlement to compensation. It is suggested that this definition should be broadened to include sexual exploitative behaviour, such as grooming.
• terrorism – the terrorist attacks of last year left people with serious life changing injuries and brought to light questions about the suitability of the scheme in providing support to victims of terrorism. The review will consider and clarify the eligibility, entitlement and amount of compensation to be awarded. This will build on the roll-out of the ground-breaking Victims of Terrorism Unit last year, to help ensure the best possible support.

Notes to editors

‘Same roof rule’

• The so-called ‘same roof rule’ was part of the original (non-statutory) compensation scheme introduced in 1964.
• The rule was changed in 1979, but was not made retrospective.
• The pre-1979 same roof rule applies to adults and children. Under the rule applicants are not entitled to compensation if they were living with their assailant as members of the same family at the time of the incident.
  • The reasons for the rule were, broadly, difficulties with evidence in such cases, and a wish to ensure that offenders did not benefit from compensation paid to the victim who they were living with.
  • The rule applies to all victims of abuse inflicted by a family member living under the same roof; this includes physical as well as sexual abuse.
• The rule was amended in 1979 to apply to adults only. Under the rule applicants can still be refused compensation if at the time of the incident they were adults living with the assailant as members of the same family, unless they no longer live together and are unlikely to do so again.
  • The amended rule gives CICA discretion to consider what has happened post the incident taking place, which has significantly reduced the number of applicants who are refused under this amended rule.
• In July the Court of Appeal found that the pre-1979 rule unlawfully discriminated against the applicant. The government decided to not appeal this ruling and confirmed it would consult on changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
• Abolishing the rule will require secondary legislation. Further details on this and the review of the scheme will be announced in due course.