Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Author: VBoffice

  • Leading Labour’s commitment to women at the next General Election – Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner

    Vera Baird QC, Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, will today release the findings of a report which will influence the next Labour Government’s agenda on delivering for women across the north east and United Kingdom.

    In 2011 the Labour Party asked Vera Baird to lead ‘Everywoman Safe Everywhere’ Commission and come up with recommendations for the next Labour Government. An interim report was produced in 2012 with the final report being published today (Wednesday, 10 December, 2014).

    The research covered many areas affecting women – from legal aid to services for victims of domestic violence.

    The report asks the next Labour Government to do more than just reverse the last five years of decline by putting tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of our modern welfare state.

    It proposes a statutory obligation on Government and local authorities to develop integrated domestic and sexual violence strategies and the establishment of a new Commissioner to tackle violence against women and girls, to drive their implementation and bring national standards of service to all.

    The report encourages reforming how services are commissioned, refocusing on the practical need for specialist women-centred services with a track record of success.

    Vera Baird said: “I was delighted to be asked by Yvette Cooper to lead this Commission, as it’s allowed me to put the changes we’ve implemented here in Northumbria on a national platform.

    “The work happening in our region can be used as a model of good practice by the next Labour Government. The main job for Ed Miliband and his team is to develop an integrated domestic and sexual violence strategy. If we get it right from day one of the next Labour Government we will change lives for a generation.”

    Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already accepted one of the report’s recommendations for a new national refuge fund, to provide the safe places that women and children need and national Rape Support Funding on a three-year cycle, to give rape crisis centres real security.

    Vera Baird added: “The Shadow Home Secretary’s actions show how Labour take women’s issues seriously and we are committed to providing safe places for women and girls when they need it most.

    “The Commission’s recommendations are about fixing this issue, in all its myriad forms, including forced marriage, trafficking, slavery, harassment, honour crimes, FGM and prostitution; putting them at the heart of the modern public services that Ed Miliband’s Premiership will deliver. Next we should work on a strategy with the Department of Education, to prevent violence against women and girls in coming generations so we can also drive a lasting legacy of culture change.”

  • Vera’s View – Changes to police bail.

    The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gave police the power to bail someone who has been arrested while they investigate an allegation. Its authors could never have imagined that today there would be an estimated 70,000 people on police bail and that 5,000 of those have been on bail for more than 6 months.

    A growing number of politicians, lawyers and former ministers have demanded reform. There are no time limits, which can punish people by restricting their freedom when there is only suspicion against them, not even a charge. The police can add conditions,for instance a curfew, a condition of residing at a particular address or a ban on associating with specific other people. Any one of these can have a hugely restrictive impact yet it is difficult to challenge their fairness. The government has cut legal aid so solicitors are less often at police stations to make representation. Custody sergeants are not particularly likely to listen to suspects themselves. However unfair or restrictive bail conditions are , it is a criminal offence to break one.

    Campaigners want to see a time limit of 28 days after which the measure must be reviewed by a Judge not the police.

    The police have a duty to investigate crimes in a timely manner.  Mr & Mrs X were arrested on 27th September 2012 and their homes and offices searched. They  were interviewed and bailed to return on March 12th 2013, with a condition of residence imposed and their computers and iPads seized.  They were re-bailed repeatedly until June 30th 2014 when  they were warned that the investigation is continuing but were released from bail. Clearly it has to be asked why they were ever on bail in the first place.  In West Mercia one person has been on bail for more than 723 days and will hear this month if their case is to be referred to court.

    The issue has come to the fore because a number of journalists arrested in the phone hacking scandal were on long term bail and then told there would be no further action. Similarly “celebrities” such as Jim Davidson and Freddie Starr who faced sexual abuse allegations were bailed didn’t go forward that make the headline.

    These recent long-term bail victims have Theresa May to thank.Three years ago the Home Secretary had the ideal opportunity to change the law. In May 2011, a curious High Court ruling in a case called Hookway said that nobody could be kept on police bail for more than 96 hours. This was in answer to the problem, even then, of people being kept on conditional bail for far too long, but it clearly it left the police with severe problems.

    The Home Secretary did nothing for weeks and then rushed through emergency legislation simply reversing the case and restoring the status quo. She made no attempt to find a balance between the liberties of the bail victims and the reasonable requirements of a police investigation. If there is to be legislation shortly, as campaigners demand, it means that she will have enacted two sets of law, within three years, having opposite effects and, in the meantime, hundreds of people have continued to suffer unnecessary limits on their freedom and arguably a breach of their right to be considered innocent until proved to be guilty. As the then policing Minister, Nick Herbert said, the Home Secretary had just allowed the police to operate on the same basis as they had for the last 25 years.

    In contrast, the College of Policing carried out a consultation and found that when people are bailed pre-charge, the effect on the police is that the investigation loses momentum.Officers know that they have the option of just repeatedly bailing people and with no pressure of time, other cases take priority. In the aftermath of this report, one police force challenged itself to cut bail times and easily succeeded. In light of those findings, from the police themselves, there really can be no argument against a time limit on pre-charge bail.

    In Northumbria, police are making more use of asking people to come to the police station voluntarily – this reduces the demand on custody suites too. If there has to be an arrest for any reason, people can still be released without bail while investigations continue. It is only if those two avenues are considered and reasonably rejected that it can possibly be justifiable to arrest and put a person onto pre-charge bail. In that situation, only necessity and not convenience, can justify the imposition of conditions and the bail itself must, obviously be time-limited.

    The campaign wants to see a time limit of 28 days but as a Police and Crime Commissioner I would not want to see officers spending time away from inquiries and going to court to justify extending bail when, for instance, it is frequently the case that forensic science reports take a number of weeks.

    A maximum of twelve weeks would give the police a reasonable time to investigate while not imposing greatly on personal liberty. The level of injustice currently being suffered by 70000 people many of whom will never be charged with an offence but are spending their lives on restrictive bail is such that, one opportunity having been wasted it is now urgent for the Home Secretary to introduce legislation to settle this issue

  • Ahead of the Autumn Statement – How Labour will make a difference,

     

    The mood of Britain last week was to enjoy “Black Friday” that became Black weekend as shoppers headed to stores and online to grab a bargain or two.

     

    Today could become “Black Wednesday” depending on what the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, will tell the House of Commons.  We already know this government has broken promise after promise, cut funding to our police service (since 2010, Northumbria’s budget has been cut by more than £80 million) and forgotten about our region. 

    The Tories came to power on a promise to balance the books by 2015  which they have broken. When Labour win the election in six months time, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls are set to inherit a large deficit – which they will address.  Income tax receipts across the Parliament are set to fall short of their 2010 expectations by more than £66 billion and receipts from National Insurance Contributions are a further £22.5 billion lower across the same period – less money in means less to spend on services such as police, schools, NHS and protecting our vulnerable people to name but a few.

    The last few years have been hard for families, real median wages for full time workers have fallen by more than £2000 since 2010.  In Northumbria, I have played a small part in improving the salaries of lower paid members of staff by introducing the Living Wage, all cleaning staff within Northumbria Police now benefit from an increase in pay of more than £1 per hour.  Prior to this the service was contracted out and the cleaners were on the minimum wage.  There are still more than 4.9 million workers earning less than the Living – this is something that must change in the next Parliament.

     

    We need a government that is going to support the 1.4 million people who are currently on zero-hours contracts – many of the people affected work regular and predictable hours but don’t benefit from sick and holiday pay.  I know that with Ed Miliband as Prime Minister, we will see zero hour contacts abolished.

     

    It will be interesting to see what George Osborne says in his Autumn statement, as he has to account why the Tory led Government has borrowed more in four and a half years than the last Labour government did in 13 years.  The Chancellor needs to explain why he has borrowed almost £4 billion more than he did in the same period last year. 

     

    Labour is clear that we need an economic plan that can earn our way to rising living standards for all.  I want the next Labour government to help families in Sunderland and Newcastle just as much as David Cameron has helped millionaires with their tax break in this Parliament.  I want Labour to be given the opportunity to build 200,000 new homes a year to help get first time buyers on the property ladder.

     

    Let’s help the next generation by creating more apprenticeships. Since I took up my post of Police & Crime Commissioner, my small office has been able to help boost the career of two young people by securing them apprentice opportunities.  Ed Balls has made no promises without saying where the money is coming from, the Labour Party manifesto will have no commitments paid for by additional borrowing.

     

    Labour will balance the book, I suspect George Osborne will shuffle a few pages today – he has failed to deliver over the last four years, he has forgotten the North East.  I know it will take a Labour Government to make the changes happen that we want to see.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE: Domestic abuse. Children can learn by example.

     

    \"Northumbria

    \’Children can learn by example\’ – that\’s the message of Northumbria Police and Vera Baird\’s campaign tackling domestic violence over the festive period.Launched on Thursday 27th November, the forcewide initiative asks those involved in a domestically abusive relationship, whether as the victim or the perpetrator, to think about the affect their behaviour is having on children living under the same roof. It\’s being supported by Vera Baird, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.

    Regardless of whether the child has been physically abused, witnessing violent behaviour in their home by seeing it, hearing it or just noticing signs of injury, will have a profound affect on them.

    Domestic abuse is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

    Mrs Baird, who made domestic and sexual abuse a priority of her police and crime plan and with her fellow north east Commissioners launched the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy in 2013, said: “It is well known that the victims of domestic abuse are not just those who bear the brunt of the assaults and abuse but the children who witness these events on a daily basis.

    “Sadly these youngsters can also be the target for this violence meaning that the impact of this behaviour has a far reaching and long-lasting impact which is often perpetuated through generations.

    “Domestic abuse is a terrible legacy for families and we must protect the victims and any children to ensure this crime is tackled.

    “One important area where this can be implemented is through education. This is by taking the key messages into schools, youth clubs and colleges, and talking with teachers and youth leaders about the effects of domestic violence and how the different strands of awareness can be best communicated to young people, as they look at the areas of healthy relationships.

    “People must not stay quiet and think it is their fault – this is never the case and there are people working in various organisations who can help victims to safety and the assistance they need.

    “And while this is a Christmas campaign, it is not a crime which is just limited to the festive season. Domestic abuse happens every hour of every day of every year and we must ensure this crime is never forgotten.”

    Temporary Detective Superintendent Lisa Orchard said: \”Children can \’witness\’ domestic abuse in many ways.

    \”They don\’t have to see this first hand. They may be in another room and hear everything that\’s happening. They may see the aftermath of a violent episode such as injuries to their parents or guardians or breakages in the house.

    \”However it\’s witnessed, it can still go on to have a detrimental impact on a child\’s own behaviour.

    \”They may become withdrawn, anxious or depressed; have problems with school or even go on to display aggression themselves.

    \”While we completely understand the trauma faced by victims of domestic violence, we\’re urging them to think about how this is also  traumatic for any children involved and can affect the rest of their lives. They can stop this cycle of abuse by reporting it to police or speaking to a support agency.

    \”The same message goes to those who commit acts of domestic violence who should seek help to alter their behaviour.\”

    Anyone suffering abuse can call 0800 066 5555 for independent and confidential advice.

    To change abusive behaviour, call Respect on 0808 802 4040.

    In an emergency, call 999 or to speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing Team call 101, extension 69191.

  • Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner welcomes White Ribbon Day (25th November 2014)

    Vera Baird QC, Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner welcomes 2014 White Ribbon Day and calls on men across the North East to take a stand against domestic violence as part of International White Ribbon Day.

     White Ribbon Day is inspired by the White Ribbon Pledge lead by men who campaign to stop domestic violence against women.  They believe that men need to take a share of the responsibility of putting an end to domestic violence against women.

     Vera Baird hopes men across the region will support White Ribbon Day by wearing their ribbon.

     Mrs Baird said: “Wearing a white ribbon shows that men are saying loud and clear that they will never condone, take part in or remain silent about domestic abuse against women.  To stop domestic abuse and violence we all have to take a share of the responsibility in putting an end to it.\”

     Supporting White Ribbon Day is local Member of Parliament Nick Brown. Mr Brown said: “Everyone in public life should take a stand against domestic violence. Bullying is unacceptable. Victims should be able to approach the police confident that those in authority will take the issue seriously.”

     Mrs Baird added: “Quite simply domestic violence is unacceptable and we will continue to do everything within our powers to put an end to it”.  But we can only do this if we all work together – this includes, men, women, businesses and charities.\”

     Vera Baird has worked closely with Ron Hogg (PCC Durham) and Barry Coppinger (PCC Cleveland) to develop a North East regional strategy to ensure all victims can expect the same level of service from the police, no matter where they live. Next month the Commissioners will be marking one year of the regional strategy, looking at successes during 2014 and plans for the year ahead. 

     

    Mrs Baird concluded: “I will continue to ensure that Northumbria Police and its partners do everything they can to tackle domestic violence.  The effects of domestic abuse affect many people – the victims, children, family members and even employers.  I hope that White Ribbon Day shows local people that they have a role to play in tackling domestic abuse.  Let’s no longer allow it to be the silent crime and give victims the voice to report it.”

    Across the Northumbria Force region there are a number of services available to support victims. 

     

    Vera Baird will be speaking at Gateshead’s White Ribbon Day event on Friday 28th November 2014 that is being hosted at Caedmon Hall, Gateshead Library, Prince Consort Road in Gateshead between 11am and 3pm.

     

  • Restorative Justice – Making A Difference in Northumbria

    Restorative Justice really does make a difference – here is a story from the Evening Chronicle about how it made a difference to two ladies in Whitley Bay. 

     

     

  • Vera Baird welcomes visa ban

    Vera Baird welcomes visa ban

    Vera Baird has welcomed the news that US self-styled ‘dating coach’ Julien Blanc has been denied a visa to visit the UK.

    The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner said she was delighted Blanc, whose proposed visit had led to a petition of more than 150,000 names being sent to Home Secretary Theresa May calling on his visa to be refused, would not be coming to the UK.

    Blanc, who hit the headlines because of his history of inciting violence against women, has held ‘dating seminars’ suggesting men use harassment and abuse tactics to attract women and has been widely criticised for his sexist, racist and criminal approaches to women.

    Earlier this year he cut short his Australian tour and had his visa cancelled when he left the country.

    Vera Baird, who with her fellow north east Commissioners launched a joint Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, said the right decision had been taken to deny Blanc a visa.

    “I’m pleased the Home Office took this decisive action to prevent him from entering this country and I am pleased common sense has prevailed.

    “As a lifelong campaigner against violence against women and girls, I was appalled that he was going to be allowed into this country to share his negative and violent views.

    “This decision will send the right message out not only to people suffering from sexual and domestic violence but the wider public in this country.”

    Since Mrs Baird became Commissioner two years ago she has worked extensively to prevent sexual and domestic violence and it is one of the priorities of her Police and Crime Plan.

  • Northumbria receiving national recognition

    Special mention was made of the work being undertaken by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird by the Home Secretary Theresa May at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ Annual Conference in Harrogate.

    Mrs May was recognising the work of Commissioners from across England and Wales when she made special mention of the Northumbria Commissioner.

    The Home Secretary was talking about engaging with local communities and recognised that Commissioners such as Mrs Baird had raised the profile of the role and shown that they could make a difference.

    She said: “As Vera Baird, the Police and Crime Commissioner in Northumbria, has said: ‘My post bag and the hundreds of meetings I go to make clear the public is now well aware of the presence of commissioners and very interested to hear about them and hold them to account.’”

    Mrs Baird added: “When I was elected, I promised to keep in touch with local residents by attending meetings and events and by being accessible – this is exactly what I have done and will continue to do. The mail that comes into my office far exceeds anything the Police Authority received.  It’s good that local residents see me as being accessible and a voice for them in ensuring Northumbria Police is delivering for local communities.”

    The Home Secretary also recognised that Police and Crime Commissioners can be innovative and forward thinking, saying: “In Northumbria, Vera Baird’s work has led to the creation of 165 Domestic and Sexual Violence Champions in workplaces, clubs and public spaces, among other important initiatives.”

    Mrs Baird added: “We will continue to drive change and implement changes that will make a difference to serious issues.  As Police and Crime Commissioner I have the ability to bring partners together to address issues and drive forward change – this has happened with the Vulnerability Training and the workplace Champions strategy.”

    As we head towards a General Election, all parties have put forward different ways of dealing with police governance.

    Vera Baird said: “It’s vitally important that police governance engages with the public and that they have a voice.  The Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is right to have this discussion, to learn what has gone well since the creation of PCCs and to ensure that the public continue to be fully engaged and have confidence in police governance and that police officers continue to serve the communities they work in.”

  • Commissioner joins call to ban controversial US figure

    Vera Baird is backing the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s call to prevent a US self-styled ‘dating coach’ from coming to the UK.

    Julien Blanc, who has hit the headlines because of his history of inciting violence against women, is due to come to London on November 27 and then again in March and April next year.

    His ‘dating seminars’ have suggested men use harassment and abuse tactics to attract women and has been widely criticised for his sexist, racist and criminal approaches to women.

    A petition launched earlier this month now has more than 150,000 signatures and is calling on Home Secretary Theresa May to deny him a visa to come to the UK.

    Earlier this year Blanc ended an Australian tour early and his visa was cancelled when he left the country.

    The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, who last year launched a joint Violence Against Women and Girls strategy with her fellow north eastern Commissioners, said she was appalled that it was even being considered for Blanc to be allowed into the UK.

    “I’m a lifelong campaigner against violence against women and girls and everything he stands for is abhorrent to the values I hold,” the Commissioner said.

    “I hope the Home Office takes swift and decisive action to prevent him from entering this country and I am pleased to see so many people have, like me, signed this petition against Blanc’s planned visits.

    “Since becoming Commissioner two years ago I’ve worked extensively to prevent sexual and domestic violence which is one of the priorities of my Police and Crime Plan.

    “I know the misery and suffering this violence causes in our region and nationwide and the impact it has on people and those around them and how it can ultimately lead to people dying.

    “We should not give people a platform for promoting these negative and violent messages.”

  • Putting Victims First

    Commissioners put victims first

    Police and crime commissioners across England and Wales are championing the rights of victims, having recently taken on responsibility for commissioning services to support them in the aftermath of a crime against them.

    From implementing innovative and integrated local services, to seeking the wider public’s views on how offenders of anti-social behaviour should be dealt with, PCCs are now at the forefront of helping victims to cope and recover.

    Funding for support services for victims is passing from the Ministry of Justice to police and crime commissioners enabling a far more locally driven provision for victims of crime to be created. Some areas went live with the new arrangements in October, while others will follow by April next year.

    Community Remedy was also launched in October, giving victims of certain types of crime and anti-social behaviour a say in the out of court punishment of offenders. Police and crime commissioners consulted extensively with the public before they agreed on the list of local ‘options’ to choose from.

    Chair of the APCC’s Supporting Victims and Reducing Harm Standing Group Vera Baird is the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Northumbria Police region which goes live in April 2015.

    She said: “This puts the victim at the centre of the service they receive and will ensure consistency across the board so no matter where people live they receive a good service which leaves them with a positive experience.

    “I am delighted commissioners across the country are now at the forefront of helping victims recover from their upsetting experiences and putting them at the centre of our efforts.”

    Today’s Partnership Summit will hear more about how victims can be better supported in the aftermath of a crime against them, but it will also hear about preventing them becoming victims in the first place by reducing re-offending. Workshop sessions on Day 2 of the Summit coincide with Restorative Justice Week.