14 May 2023 , 16:01
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Brits who suffer because of appalling anti-social behaviour must be classed as victims of crime, the Tories have been told.
Shadow Victims Minister Anna McMorrin and ex-Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird told the Mirror that “victims are being let down again and again and again” - and branded proposed laws to protect victims as “extremely weak”.
They said vulnerable people - including the elderly or unwell - who are repeatedly targeted by thugs who stamp on their flowers, smash cake at their window or throw beer bottles in their garden are not classed as victims so are not eligible for support.
Ms McMorrin said: “People write it off as low level crime, but it's not low level crime when it's happening again and again and again. It's really impacting on your mental health, on your life.
“One of my constituents came to me. She was absolutely just distraught. She suffered a miscarriage due to the stress of anti-social behaviour in her local community and she was asking for help.
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Labour's Anna McMorrin and Dame Veira Baird spoke to the Mirror after a visit to Victim Support’s national call centre in Cardiff“She's a victim but she's not defined as one to get any sort of support. She doesn't have a voice.”
Dame Vera accused the government of downgrading victims' needs when she resigned as Victims’ Commissioner in September - a role which is still yet to be filled.
She has consistently pushed for people who are repeatedly targeted by anti-social behaviour “to be treated fully and properly as victims of crime”.
“You have no idea the people I came across when I was a Police and Crime Commissioner who were focused on [by criminals] probably because they were old or weren't very well,” she said.
“People would drink beer outside and chuck it in their garden. They would throw cake at the window. If they ever appeared to sort of reprimand these people, they would just get ridiculed and have their plants stamped on in their garden.
“I've seen many cases of that kind and you're not a victim of crime, you're not entitled to any of this kind of support that we want to give as broadly as possible.”
She added: “When these all add up they are worse than many crimes because you're persecuted in your own home.
"You don't want to go out because you don't feel safe with them around. You don't feel safe at home either because they are right on top of you.”
Shadow victims minister Anna McMorrin (left) and Dame Vera Baird criticised the new Victims and Prisoners Bill in an interview with the MirrorDame Vera, who was on a visit to Victim Support’s national call centre in Cardiff with Ms McMorrin, said support for those affected by anti-social behaviour could include help with getting new security or window locks.
Local crime commissioners could also advocate on behalf of them if they were properly classed as victims, which could include getting together the police, the local authority, the health services and housing providers to solve the problem, she added.
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A long-awaited Victims and Prisoners bill is due to return to the Commons on Monday.
Dame Vera said it "makes absolutely no difference whatsoever” to redefining victims of anti-social behaviour as it stands.
“It’s very well known and has been for a long time and it's just amazing that the government completely disregards this group of often very vulnerable people,” she added.
Labour is planning to table an amendment to the bill that would ensure the law properly classes people who are targeted by anti-social behaviour as victims.
They also plan to table other amendments including free legal advice for rape victims as well as strengthening the rights of victims of major tragedies such as Hillsborough, Grenfell or the Manchester bombings.
Ms McMorrin said: “How long have we waited for this bill? Eight years, eight Justice Secretaries, Queen's Speech after Queen's Speech. We've been expecting it.
“And here it is, and it's a missed opportunity. It's weak so what we want to do is push the government to strengthen the bill for victims and put victims right at the heart of the criminal justice system.
“At the moment they're being let down. Traumatised victims are being re-traumatised through the criminal justice process.”
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