THE fight to give victims a voice within the justice system has taken a step forward after years of campaigning by victims’ commissioner Helen Newlove.

Baroness Newlove along with the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire David Keane is asking for members of the public who have fallen victim to crime to have their say on the system.

This follows the commission of a national review by the Ministry of Justice following the controversial decision to release rapist John Worboys.

The former black cab driver was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment, with a minimum term of eight years, for public protection in 2009.

The victims were outraged by the news of Worboys’ imminent release in January, saying many were not informed before it was made public.

Baroness Newlove said: “I understand – as a person who has gone through this experience and from speaking to victims – that we have to make sure it is fully resourced. They need to understand the victim’s journey.

“I’d rather it was opt out than opt in with regards to the victims’ contact scheme.”

Since her husband Garry Newlove’s tragic death in 2007, Baroness Newlove has campaigned for better support for victims of crime.

Her husband was killed after confronting a gang of drunken youths who were vandalising a car outside the family home in Fearnhead.

After years of campaigning for victims, in 2012 she was appointed victims’ commissioner for the first time and she was reappointed in 2016.

The national review will look into how effectively the parole process involves victims, how transparent the process should be and whether the victims’ contact scheme is supporting victims in the way that it should.

As part of the review Mrs Newlove has written to PCCs up-and-down the country to encourage victims in their areas to take part in an online survey, which will be used to inform the review. 

Mr Keane said: “This is something I feel passionately about. 

“It is crucial that people in Cheshire, who have been victims of crime, have the opportunity to have their voices heard in this national review – particularly those who have experienced the parole process or the victims’ contact scheme.”

Victims of crime can have their say by completing the survey by March 14. 

The review is set to be published in April.

Visit victimscommissioner.org.uk.