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: Ron Hogg

  • North East PCCs call for debate to reduce alcohol consumption.

    Vera Baird SBE KC

    A major conference in Durham today has called for changes in the licensing laws for alcohol. The key outcomes of the conference are expected to form the basis of a debate in Parliament.

    Over one hundred people from decision-making bodies met with the North East’s three Police and Crime Commissioners at the Durham Centre in Belmont to hear about the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, and to share ideas about how consumption might be reduced. As well as the Police and Crime Commissioners, speakers at the event included:

    – Jon Foster, Senior Research and Policy Officer, Institute of Alcohol Studies

    – Professor Dorothy Newbury Birch, Professor of Alcohol and Public Health Research, Teesside University

    – Colin Shevills, Director of Balance

    Ron Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, said “There has been a 57% increase in alcohol-related deaths since 1994. As well as the tragic consequences for the families concerned, this means that resources are being used by the emergency services which could be better committed elsewhere.”

    Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, said “It’s vital that we work together to reduce the cost to society of alcohol related harm by changing attitudes, deterring offenders and tackling irresponsible supply.

    “Many residents are calling for a lower drink drive limit, which in Scotland has led to a 17% reduction in drink-drive offences. I give my full support to this and, along with my fellow PCCs in the region, will continue campaigning for its implementation.”

    Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, said “Our hardworking emergency services are all too aware of the long term effects of excessive drinking and the impact on their resources and our communities. This debate is long overdue and I firmly believe that our experts in the North East have a valid and relevant story to tell in helping to inform this debate.”

    I believe that a minimum unit price for alcohol would serve to reduce consumption and improve community safety.’

    The three PCCs are working with local MPs to secure a debate in Parliament, to review the licensing laws.

  • The Guardian – 26th September 2014. “Police Commissioners seek inquiry…”

    North East Police & Crime Commissioners say Judge Moorhouse\’s lax sentence told women that \”male judges will not protect them\”

    Read more by clicking here www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/26/police-commissioners-inquiry-judge-leniency-domestic-abuse

  • North East Commissioners call for Judge to be investigated.

    Commissioners call for Judge to be investigated

    The north east’s three Police and Crime Commissioners are calling on the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office to investigate a Teesside Judge who let down a victim of domestic abuse.

    It follows the court case of a 34-year-old man, who was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.

    Teesside Crown Court heard how the man had terrorised his wife by biting and throttling her, before holding a knife to her throat and shooting her in the toe during a terrifying attack.

    Even after the police became involved, the man attempted to intimidate the victim to drop the charges but the victim went ahead and ensured the matter was dealt with by the courts.

    Sadly, the court and Judge George Moorhouse did not deliver for this victim of domestic abuse and the three Commissioners – Northumbria’s Vera Baird, Barry Coppinger from Cleveland and Durham’s Ron Hogg – feel the sentence was unduly lenient.

    Vera Baird said: “Judge Moorhouse does not appreciate that he has a role to play in stopping the epidemic crime of domestic violence and abuse. This sentence sends out the totally wrong message to victims of this crime.”

    Mrs Baird added: “Barry Coppinger, Ron Hogg and myself have worked hard to deliver a regional strategy to help protect women and girls who are affected by domestic violence and abuse.

    “We’ve changed the culture in how the police deal with such cases and our partners work much closer together to offer support and guidance to victims, then we are let down by the courts with lenient sentences like this.”

    In a letter to the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office, the three Commissioners say Judge Moorhouse needs to be accountable for his actions and to understand that his conduct is not acceptable.

    They said the Judge had sent out the wrong message to women not just in the north east but across the country that male judges will not take a role in protecting them or deterring the crime from which they suffer.

    The Commissioners also feel that all Judges should undergo training to learn about the effects of domestic abuse and how it hurts both the victims and their families.

    Vera Baird added: “I don’t want victims of domestic abuse to be put off from telling the police what is happening to them.

    “We’ve dedicated police staff who will help and support victims. We are on the side of victims and will continue to support them in every way we can.

    “There are good Judges who give proper verdicts that fit the crime and we now need to make sure all Judges are of the same mindset.”