Baird accuses government of 'downgrading' victims' interests

Dame Vera Baird KC will step down as Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales at the end of the month – confirming her departure in a scathing letter that accused the government of 'downgrading' victims' interests.

In a letter to new lord chancellor Brandon Lewis CBE MP, Baird said an important part of her role is access to ministers on behalf of the people she represents and serves.

‘Prior to this year, we have made progress for victims largely through the responsive attitude of previous secretaries of state. It was notable that the former lord chancellor had not met with me once since February. The lack of engagement from the top at a time of great upheaval for victims reflected poorly on the Ministry of Justice’s priorities and the government’s approach.’

Baird said little had been done to effectively tackle the ‘enormous and catastrophic’ court backlog and that it was ‘no exaggeration to say that the criminal justice system is in chaos’.

‘This downgrading of victims’ interests in the government’s priorities, along with the side-lining of the Victims’ Commissioner’s office and the curious recruitment process make clear to me that there is nothing to be gained for victims by my staying in post beyond the current extension. As such, my term will end on 30 September,’ she said.

Baird’s term as Victims' Commissioner was due to end in June. She said she was informed by then lord chancellor Dominic Raab that he intended to open the post to competition and he encouraged her to apply. At his request, she also extended her term by a month. ‘At the time, the long-promised Victims’ Bill was finally emerging and in need of much improvement. My office had carried out a dozen victims’ roundtables and sent in abundant recommendations to officials but little of that work was reflected in the bill. It was therefore vitally important to me that the Victims’ Commissioner make representations to the justice committee and I was happy to extend for this reason.’

In July, ‘I was phoned by officials and brusquely informed that there would be no appointment from the recruitment process after all. Subsequently, I sought and received assurances from the Ministry of Justice that I had in fact been an appointable candidate. Nevertheless, the recruitment exercise was still to be aborted and rerun. Months of additional uncertainty were heaped on an already disrupted and destabilised office and my excellent staff. Once more I was urged to apply. Once more I was asked to extend my term - this time until the end of the year. With the Victims’ Bill still in draft, I made arrangements as best as I could to stay until at least 30 September and to consider any further extension in due course'.

'Asking me to re-apply given that two opportunities to re-appoint me have already passed and my office is no longer given much access to ministers seems more a ploy to keep me in place as a nominal post-holder in the short-term than a genuine invitation. Coupled with this, the Victims’ Bill remains inadequate and the “British Bill of Rights” so severely threatens victims’ human rights that it undermines what little progress the Victims’ Bill is set to bring. I am told the Bill of Rights is set to return in some form and that its withdrawal was only temporary.'

Baird urged Lewis not to allow the role of Victim’s Commissioner ‘lie dormant like the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’.

The Gazette understands the recruitment process for a new commissioner is ongoing and interim arrangements will be announced in due course.

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