Latest news with #VictimsRights
The Independent
13-07-2025
- The Independent
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber has criticised new legislation that could leave victims of mentally disordered offenders without certain legal rights as 'utterly outrageous'. The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lack of victims' rights in new Bill ‘outrageous', says Barnaby Webber's mother
The mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber has criticised new legislation that could leave victims of mentally disordered offenders without certain legal rights as 'utterly outrageous'. The Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through the Commons, will give victims no statutory right to be told about decisions affecting the detention, leave or discharge of their offenders with its current provisions, according to national charity Hundred Families. Discretion of the information will be left to hospital managers and probation services instead, with victims having no legal right to be informed, carry out a consultation or appeal any decisions. Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates before attempting to kill three other people, in a spate of attacks in the city in June 2023. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February and is due to take place later this year. Emma Webber said the Bill would be 'a betrayal of every victim who has already been failed by this system' if it was passed into law in its current form. 'This must not happen. It is utterly outrageous that the Government would even contemplate this,' she said. 'So egregious are the failings by every single agency involved in every aspect of our tragedy that a statutory public inquiry is under way. 'A significant part of the inquiry will focus on the failings of 'hospital managers' and 'clinicians' who failed to do their jobs properly. Resulting in the monster who killed my beautiful child be allowed to roam the streets and hide in plain sight.' Ms Webber continued: 'Why has the Government chosen to include us as families in the proposals for the mental health bill, revision of our homicide laws and even the 10-year plan but conveniently chosen to ignore us on what is probably the one that will affect us the most?' Campaigners have called on victims minister Alex Davies-Jones to amend the Bill by guaranteeing all victims have the right to be consulted, receive necessary information and be informed of key decisions, and to create a formal appeal process when information is denied. Julian Hendy, founder of Hundred Families, said the Bill as it stands was 'not just a loophole, it's a kick in the teeth' for bereaved families and victims. She said: 'We are talking about offenders who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, which cause extreme concern amongst the public. 'This is not about punishment. It's about basic fairness, compassion, and transparency. Victims and their families should not be shut out of decisions that affect their personal safety and recovery. 'We have a lamentably long track record in our country of ignoring victims of serious crime. That has to stop. There is a balance to be struck. 'The Government has a clear opportunity to put this right and they must not waste it.' The Victims and Courts Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons after first being introduced to Parliament in May.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Cowardly criminals who refuse to appear in dock for sentencing will be slapped with LONGER jail terms
CRIMINALS who refuse to face victims' families for sentencing will be hit with extra jail time. Cowards could get two more years under the Victims and Courts Bill which is introduced today. 4 Those facing whole life orders, who would not be deterred by extra time, face being confined to cells and losing privileges such as gym access. The bill is set to cover all crimes, not just the worst and minister Alex Davies-Jones vowed: 'Justice isn't optional.' Several families have campaigned for action against the courtroom sentencing dodgers. They include Cheryl Korbel whose daughter Olivia, nine, was shot dead by Liverpool drug dealer Thomas Cashman as he chased a rival into her home. Cheryl wanted Cashman to hear her statement to 'understand the pain he's caused'. PM Sir Keir Starmer promised her he would change the law. Baby killer nurse Lucy Letby, and Jordan McSweeney, who killed Zara Aleena in Ilford, East London, also failed to face their victims' families in court. Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford who murdered three of the Hunt family in Bushey, Herts, refused to attend sentencing where he got a whole life order in March. Southport child murderer Axel Rudakubana also avoided facing families as he was removed from his hearing for shouting. London's Independent Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman, said: 'I am pleased this Government has listened and included other measures, such as prison sanctions, which I hope will put an end to this cruel injustice.' Rishi Sunak blasts Lucy Letby for refusing to appear in court to face justice as she's sentenced for murdering 7 babies 4 4
