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

Tag: Northumbria

  • Is this Government Serious about protecting victims?

    Is this Government serious about protecting victims? – Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird

    This week Justice Secretary Chris Grayling MP provided the House of Commons with further information about the Government\’s document \’Our Commitment to Victims\’.

    In a Written Ministerial Statement Mr Grayling believes the proposed laws will see victims kept informed about their case and courts will allow most to provide a personal impact statement. 

    Vera Baird said: \”What the Justice Secretary has announced is a few add ons to the Victims\’ Code – but nothing of real substance.

    \”A lot of what is mentioned in the Written Ministerial Statement is already happening, an example being that victim impact statements will become law, however they have already proved their worth without legislation. We saw the benefits of impact statements in the Rolf Harris case. These statements allow the courts to know how victims have been affected by a crime and for the perpetrator to hear how their actions can ruin lives.\”

    Mrs Baird added: \”Let’s be absolutely clear, Chris Grayling is the Secretary of State who has cut compensation to victims to the bone and scrapped legal aid for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

    \”It\’s a shocking indictment of this Government’s policies for victims that two-thirds of domestic violence victims have been left with no legal aid to safeguard families against violent partners.  This is a Government that tells us they take seriously the need to address domestic violence – then they remove the very support that is needed.\”

    The Government has published updates and provided further information, but they have avoided the question about why they implemented cuts to the Criminal Justice Compensation Board.

    \”Let us be under no illusion, as Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan recently said, the Government has let victims down by cutting compensation for innocent victims of violent crime and leaving the position of Victims’ Commissioner vacant for almost a year, before making the role part time,\” the Commissioner said. 

    \”Downing Street does not speak up for victims of crime. David Cameron wanted to reduce prison sentences by half if criminals entered a guilty plea, they have closed refuges and cut resources for Victim Support. 

    \”The Labour Party continues to work with organisations that support victims to ensure the right support, at the right time, is in place. The next Labour Government will implement a strategy that keeps victims at the heart of all decisions which is the right way forward – not add ons and bolt ons to existing legislation as the current Government is doing.\”

    Putting victims first is a commitment Vera Baird has given in her Police and Crime Plan for residents of Northumbria and from April 2015 responsibility for some victims\’ services will fall to Police and Crime Commissioners.

    Vera Baird has consulted on an outline strategy and is mapping the need for services. Through working with local authorities and other responsible partners she will devise a final joint strategy ensuring local services for victims are the best that can be jointly provided.

    \”Victims will always be at the centre of the criminal justice system in our region,\” she said.

  • Action Needed To Tackle True Cost Of Alcohol.

    As alcohol-related NHS admissions hit almost 10 million in England, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has again called for action to be taken in stemming the consumption of alcohol.

    Already this year Mrs Baird, together with fellow north east Police and Crime Commissioners Ron Hogg from Durham and Cleveland’s Barry Coppinger, have written of their concerns over the direct link between cheap alcohol and crime and disorder.

    The three Commissioners had called on the Government to introduce minimum pricing. Research had shown that by doing this, alcohol related crimes would reduce by thousands each year leading to an improvement in public safety and confidence as well as reducing the health impact of excessive alcohol consumption.

    Almost half of violent crimes are linked to alcohol and a survey of north east frontline police officers showed how nearly all questioned could not remember the last time they had been called to a domestic abuse incident where alcohol wasn’t involved.

    Today Alcohol Concern has updated its Alcohol Harm Map which shows that six out of every ten alcohol-related hospital visits were A&E admissions as well as almost two-thirds of the cost of inpatient admissions.

    The cost of inpatient admissions partly attributable to alcohol was said to be £1.3bn.

    “This growing reliance on alcohol is proving both costly to people’s health as well as the financial costs of health care providers,” the Commissioner said.

    “Add to this the cost alcohol consumption has on crime and disorder, not just in monetary terms for people and businesses but in its affect on the confidence of our communities, and we are looking at a worrying situation,“ Mrs Baird added.

    The Commissioner has also worked extensively in protecting people who become vulnerable while out in the region’s thriving night time economy and has introduced a raft of measures to help keep people safe.

    “I’ve introduced vulnerability training locally for door staff, which now happens nationally, and know through the feedback we’ve had that this is making a real difference.

    “This training is also being given to others working in the night time economy as well as partner agencies like local authorities, so now we have many more eyes and ears looking out for those who become vulnerable and need help to get home safely or be reunited with their friends and family.”

    Mrs Baird added: “The costs we are now seeing to various public services points to a very real need for actions to be taken to help people and alleviate the strain being placed on an already over-stretched public purse.”

  • Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling MP: His actions don’t follow his words


    Today, Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, has announced a package of measures about the  treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system.  Yet his own Victims Commissioner has doubts and Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, Vera Baird remains skeptical about his commitment to deliver.

    Under Grayling’s proposals, he states victims will be kept informed about their case, courts will allow personal impact statements to be read out.  Other measures announced include setting up a victims information service from March 2015 and allowing more child witnesses to film their evidence before a trial starts.

    However, the Government’s Victims Commissioner, Baroness Newlove has questioned how his proposals would differ in practice from the existing victims’ code.

    Baroness Newlove believes a new law cannot be used as a quick fix

    Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, said “Let’s be absolutely clear, Chris Grayling is the Secretary of State who has cut compensation to victims to the bone, he has scrapped legal aid for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.  It was Chris Grayling and his government who tried to stop part of the funding support that currently goes to the families of murder victims.  So I am doubtful whether he means what he says, as victims have never been at the heart of this government.” 

    Putting victims first is a commitment Vera Baird has given in her Police & Crime Plan for residents of Northumbria. From April 2015, responsibility for some victims services falls to Police & Crime Commissioners. Vera Baird has consulted on an outline strategy, is mapping the need for services and, working with local authorities and other responsible authorities, will devise a final joint strategy that will ensure that local services for victims are the best that can be jointly provided. Victims will always be at the centre of the criminal justice system in our region. 

    Mrs Baird commented on the fact that victim impact statements will become law, saying that they have proved their worth without legislation Mrs Baird said “We saw the benefits of impact statements in the Rolf Harris case.  These statements allow the courts to know how victims have been affected by a crime, and for the perpetrator to hear how their actions can ruin lives”.

  • My response to an article on Liberty website.

    I recently read an article entitled \”Skewed Priorities\” https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news/latest-news/skewed-priorities on the Liberty Human Rights website. It was important that I addressed a number of the points they raised, below is my reply.

    I read with interest the article entitled \”Skewed Priorities\” by Liberty\’s Emma Norton and felt that as Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria I had to respond to ensure all the facts were in the public domain and the importance of Northumbria Police launching an inquiry into \”no criming\”

    She writes that Northumbria Police \’has had to announce\’ that 11 rape allegations previously recorded as “no crimes” are going to be reinvestigated.\’ How they have \’had\’ to do so is important. It is far from new that the police \’no crime\’ rapes, in questionable circumstances. It has been happening, nationwide, for many years, publicised by campaigners, usually relying on individual or client experience or disparity of figures between forces – and yet no force before has \’had to announce\’ a reinvestigation.

    The difference this time is that Her Majesty\’s Inspectors of Constabulary now inspect from less of an internal police vantage point. The majority of Inspectors, since the advent of Tom Windsor, are drawn from a civilian scrutiny roles such as membership of the Audit Commission. There is only a minority of the former police who used to monopolise the organisation. Thus Inspectors have a better chance of seeing cases as members of the public might see them. That is because some of them are members of the public.

    Added to that I, as the elected local Police and Crime Commissioner, can scrutinise police files when it is necessary for me to fulfil my role of ensuring that the police are carrying out the public\’s wishes. Those wishes are expressed through the statutory consultation each PCC is obliged to carry out and are digested into the five year local Police and Crime Plan, giving strategic direction to the force. Domestic and sexual abuse were a top priority of the Northumbria public. I read the entire year\’s \’no crimed rapes\’ and, as an experienced criminal lawyer, found 11 of them seriously wanting. To ensure the implementation of the Police and Crime Plan and the delivery of what the people have told me they want from the police, I control the police budget. This is a significant and little appreciated shift of power from the police towards the public. HMIC have an independent perspective and a systematic process, but they cannot enforce a response. Holding the police budget means that I can do exactly that.

    Liberty could, therefore, be pleased with this development. It could welcome the news that a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed in Northumbria, not only to re-investigate the alleged rapes themselves but, with the Professional Standards Department, to investigate the officers who \’no crimed\’ them in the first place. A more independent inspectorate, and tighter local oversight secured by the leverage of being elected and possessing financial power can forcefully challenge police attitudes on rape. A number of local rape and domestic violence activists welcomed, at last, the promise of change.

    The problem is not performance statistics. There are no rape performance demands in Northumbria police, for good reasons around building the confidence to complain. All rapes must be recorded within 24 hours and those \’no crimed\’ are then recategorised. The statistics would not be significantly affected if 11 cases were wrongly \’no crimed\’ out of the 20,000 to 32,000 which, according to ONS, are reported, nationwide, in a typical year.

    Ms Norton thinks this problem has been about –

    \’protecting innocent men from false allegations\’. The Senior Investigating Officer will shortly tell us what it is all about, but we know the usual prejudices that are used in such matters, however, I have confidence that the force will look at all the evidence, ensuring that the victim is at the heart of the review.

    The Chief Constable has taken a strong stance in moving senior detectives from the department and serving some with notices of serious misconduct. This is not moving the deckchairs round while the Titanic goes down. The entire force knows what has happened and why. A strong signal is being sent that outmoded attitudes to rape are now as unacceptable in the police force as they have been to victims and the organisations that support them.

    Her Majesty\’s Inspectorate of Constabulary read a sample of \’no crimed\’ rapes from every force in the country and will shortly publish some early results. We should all be watching to see if other areas react with the same determination and rigour that has marked Northumbria\’s response.

  • Letting In The Light.

    Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner has been leading the way in helping inform the public about the work of Labour Police & Crime Commissioners.

    In association with the Fabian Society, Britain’s oldest political think tank which was established in 1884, a collection of essays have been put together which highlights how democracy can bring the police closer to the public.

    The document, attached, which is entitled \”LETTING IN THE LIGHT: LESSONS FROM LABOUR’S POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS\”

    ‘Letting in the Light: Lessons from Labour’s police and crime commissioners’, was edited by Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, is a collection of essays on policing and community safety from the 13 Labour Police and Crime Commissioners.

    In her introduction to the report Vera Baird describes the way in which the Labour Commissioners see their role as the “elected voice of the people” bringing \’ a significant shift of power towards the public\’ Commissioners provide oversight to “challenge any tendency, in such a powerful organisation, to prefer institutional self-interest over popular need”. She highlights controversies like Hillsborough, the clash between miners and police at Orgreave in 1984 and inaccuracies around the deaths of Jean Charles de Menezes, Ian Tomlinson and Mark Duggan as having damaged trust in the police.

    Labour is committed to reforming the role of commissioners but Vera Baird agrees with Lord Stevens Independent Police Commission that, whatever variant is taken on “the next Labour government should not row back on democracy in policing.” and calls on political parties to learn from the “experience of the commissioners who have been leading policy on the ground”

    Vera Baird, editor of ‘Letting in the Light’, said:

    “It is opportune, 18 months after the elections of November 2012, to describe what progress Labour commissioners have made.

    “This is not a paean of praise for the role but an account of the hands-on experience of policing governance which the commissioners intend to contribute as the party formulates its manifesto for the 2015 general election. I am proud to be Northumbria’s Commissioner and working with the Fabians has allowed me to showcase the good work that is happening in our region in offering support for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

    “Each Labour commissioner has worked hard to get the most benefit for the public from the role, even as funding for police and community safety has been cut further and further.”

    ‘Letting in the Light’ also includes contributions from:

    • Alun Michael (South Wales) on doing more with less, while continuing to support communities and taking a whole person view of crime
    • Mark Burns-Williamson (West Yorkshire) on reinvesting the confiscated proceeds of crime in local communities
    • Ron Hogg (Durham) on tackling drug addiction
    • Shaun Wright (South Yorkshire) on reoffending and restorative justice
    • Tony Lloyd (Greater Manchester) on supporting those suffering with mental health issues
    • Clive Grunshaw (Lancashire) on early intervention and prevention
    • Paddy Tipping (Nottinghamshire) on reducing alcohol related crime
    • Jane Kennedy (Merseyside) on supporting victims of domestic violence
    • Vera Baird (Northumbria) on embedding support for victims of sexual and domestic violence
    • Alan Charles (Derbyshire) on raising the profile of wildlife crime
    • Bob Jones (West Midlands) on working in partnership to reduce transport crime
    • Olly Martins (Bedfordshire) on joint working between police forces
    • Barry Coppinger (Cleveland) on the wide range of activities of a police and crime commissioner

    ‘Letting in the Light’ is dedicated to Bob Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, who contributed to the pamphlet before he passed away in July 2014

    Link to the essays –
    http://www.fabians.org.uk/publications/letting-in-the-light/

  • Progress Online Article (13th June 2014) – Policing through rights and respect – not kilos of water.

    Police forces across the country work hard, delivering community safety and working with residents to problem solve and cut crime

    Policing can only be based on partnership. ‘The police are the public and the public are the police’ is the most quoted of the Peelian principles, set out by the founder of the Metropolitan police. Few people, police, members of the public or politician would ever dispute it – except, perhaps, London mayor, Boris Johnson.

    Despite the opposition of 20 of the 25 London assembly, and without the approval of the Home Office, Johnson has decided to spend up to £400,000 of public money on heavy weaponry, which cannot be targeted but only used against people at large, namely water cannon.

    This is not just a decision for London – it is the first time that water cannon will feature in policing in all of England and Wales. There is no consensus for this step. Johnson shows little respect for his public in following the example of police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has said that ‘his’ officers are there to wage ‘total war on crime’. Londoners may be unhappy with the notion that cops are their leaders’ storm troopers rather than servants of the public. Made sceptical, through scandals such as the Lawrence case,‘plebgate’ and the deaths of Ian Tomlinson, Mark Duggan and John Charles de Menezes, Londoners may worry too about further arming the police and might ask exactly who will be defining the enemy.

    Labour assembly member Joanne McCartney objects that ‘there is confusion behind exactly how the process of their deployment will work’. Police and crime commissioners across both the country and the political spectrum are against their introduction. The Association of Chief Police Officers’ briefing says that ‘water cannon are capable of causing serious injury or even death’.  The home secretary is right when she states that we need to consider the health and safety aspects before going any further. There are examples from across Europe of severe injuries caused by police using water cannon. The riots in London in 2010 could not have been stopped with these devices which only work in spaces the size of Parliament Square.

    We are a country of free speech. We do not police protests through water cannon but through respect for that right and the rights of others who disagree. There were no riots where I live in Northumbria. If police there make a mistake, even a grave one, they do not retreat into defensive obfuscation but trust their public with the truth. Lost confidence which gives rise to protest and then, as respect for the rule of law evaporates, to lawlessness, is better not triggered in the first place. It will not be recovered by indiscriminate blasting of protesters, bystanders and criminals alike with thousands of kilos of water.

    Since 2010, through massive spending cuts imposed by the mayor’s Conservative party, the people of London have lost 3,111 police officers. Water cannon are not a substitute for uniformed officers on the street. Nor are they a substitute for the trust of the community in their police, so lamentably weakened under Johnson’s bravado but feeble stewardship.