IN THIS ISSUE

NEW VC LOGO IS A GO GONew look for VC branding

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WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITEWe launch the new VC site for victims

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FIGHTING FRAUDSTERS Meet the PC battling Sussex scamsters

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Helping victims of crimeVC NEWS ISSUE 4 JULY 19

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THROUGHOUT MY career I have been passionate about fighting injustice. Our criminal justice system can only be considered successful if it delivers justice to both victim and offender. It is sometimes thought that an improvement in treatment for victims and witnesses means attacking the rights of defendants but that is simply not true. In fact, it is my belief that positive change can benefit all.

Let me be clear, justice for victims means their voice is heard, they need to be fully considered throughout the criminal justice process and treated with respect. They have rights under the Victims Code including to be kept properly updated and given all the support they need to cope and recover.

In my previous role as Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, I set up a victims’ panel that helped shape local service provision. Only by listening to victims’ experience can we know how to deliver what they need. I was proud that victims and witnesses were at the heart of my work and that our victim services hub, whose Trustees I chaired, had a satisfaction rating of 98%.

Equally, I was proud to be the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' national lead for victims and witnesses, helping my colleagues exchange best practice and working on their behalf with the Ministry of Justice and other Government Departments to prioritise victims’ interests.

Now I want to hear first-hand from more victims, supportive charities and criminal

recently - at a time when we're all concerned about knife crime. Victims services say that victims, who are recovering from crime, regress if they go to court. We need to address all of this.

Rights in the Victims Code often failed to be implemented. The Ministry of Justice will shortly review the Code. Let’s ensure victims views are at the forefront of this review. I want stronger rights that are easier to access and we should demand that good data is collected consistently on compliance. Victims also need good quality services to help them to cope and recover. My former colleague PCCs deliver these, using local knowledge to meet local need. I intend to press for national standards which will ensure top quality services whereever a victim lives. It will be useful that I have past experience as a practising barrister in the criminal courts and as the Solicitor General for England and Wales at the heart of government. The former will help me to examine in-court treatment of victims and witnesses.

Few lawyers look at our adversarial system through victims’ eyes, but doing so shows significant opportunities for improvement and change. Experience of government means Ministers will expect me to talk to them frankly about what is possible.

In this fantastic role, a great deal is possible as long as everyone acknowledges that they too may, one day, be a victim of crime and works to ensure that current victims have all the entitlements and services they would, in that circumstance, want for themselves. ■

Meet the new CommissionerFormer solicitor-general Dame Vera Baird becomes the new Victims' Commissioner from 24 June. Below, she looks ahead to her new role

“Let me be clear, justice for victims means their voice is heard” Dame Vera Baird

justice agencies so we can all be clear about what's happening on the ground.

We know that criminal justice can feel like a hostile environment to victims and witnesses. Half of all witnesses who have attended court would never do so again. My predecessor’s ‘What Works’ report shows that those who would go to court to support a case of offensive weapon crime have fallen by almost 60%

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IN MARCH, the former Victims’ Commissioner launched our new-look website. We hope you’ll be impressed by some major improvements, including a clean, attractive layout as well as clear facts, news, advice and analysis.

Baroness Newlove said: “My website is packed with information on the concerns I care most about - which I know many of you share. You can browse our latest news, reports, tweets, speeches, videos, newsletters and press releases.

“One outstanding feature, which I hope users will find indispensable, is the Victims Journey where we tackle the types of topics

Welcome to Our New VC Websitevictims of crime actively search for, advising them about their own criminal justice journey.

“For example, I’ll cover everything from how to report a crime to preparing for trial, giving evidence and how to avoid bumping into the offender in court, parole and how to claim criminal injury compensation.

I’ll also offer my personal perspective along with some empowering tips to help victims cope with the daily challenges they face.”

We also aim to celebrate good practise. One of the best ways to help practitioners is by sharing real-life stories of ideas, insight and achievement that other service

providers may wish to emulate. Baroness Newlove said: “Fresh ideas and

initiatives really go a long way in inspiring others. So I hope you will share what works well in your own field with our readers.”

Created in collaboration with MoJ’s Tactical Products, the site is user-friendly, designed to make it easy for users to find their way around. It’s also fully “responsive” meaning the layout displays well, whether you read it on a mobile, tablet or PC.

Baroness Newlove said: “I am excited about my new website, and hope you’ll find it valuable, so let me know what you think.”For more, visit www.victimscommissioner.org.uk or tweet @victimscomm.

“I am excited about my new website, and hope you’ll find it valuable, so let me know what you think” Baroness Newlove

VC NEWS UPDATE

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BIG INTERVIEW

IN 2019, fraud is set to be Britain’s fastest-growing crime, much of it, targeting vulnerable and elderly people.

Op Signature is Sussex Police’s hugely successful campaign to identify and reduce phone and internet fraud. It’s the brainchild of PC Bernadette Lawrie BEM who created and developed an initiative which has now been rolled out by 25 police forces.

It all began in 2010, when Bernie visited pensioner Tom Beckett, 94. A post office employee alerted her after spotting that Tom was visiting the branch most days, sending money abroad to claim a lottery prize.

because he’d not just invested money but also so much belief. Tom thought he’d won millions but instead lost his life savings.

So why do people fall for deception? “You’d be amazed,” says Bernie. “There’s always a stereotype that fraud victims are stupid, but it’s the opposite. We see rich, well-educated professionals losing huge sums.”

Typically, conmen build a rapport and convince victims with endless excuses why their cheque is held up. It was easy to protect Tom, but a fresh challenge lay in stopping him from becoming a repeat victim.”

Bernie rang Tom’s son, Chris, suggested power of attorney, and gained consent for mail redirection. Hugely supportive, Chris reported the fraud to Sussex police three years earlier, when his father lost £10,000. But back then, attitudes were such, Sussex police didn’t recognise fraud as a crime if a victim sent money of their own accord, so Tom went on to lose a total of £100k.

WAKE-UP CALLTom’s case served as a wake-up call about the scale of fraud in Sussex, and triggered Op Signature.

“It started my mission to change the mindset that fraud is a serious crime,” says Bernie. “Even if someone is sat at home, appearing to willingly send money here, there and everywhere, they’re a victim.”

Over the next three years, Signature evolved into a process aimed at recognising and stopping fraud in its tracks. In 2013, the Met Police seized a “Suckers List”, containing 100,000 names and addresses to send scam mails.

Scrutinising the data, Bernie tried to identify what was going on in Sussex, and her team knocked on doors of 300 target victims in the Arun District. The majority were aged 80-90 and living alone.

“Most significantly, we discovered victims of scam mail as well as doorstep, phone and cyber fraud, who didn’t even know they were victims.”

When they produced their groundbreaking results to police chiefs, their immediate reaction was to warn all potential victims – 1,536 in total - in Sussex and police visited every home.

BREAKING HEARTSThe saddest scams are those involving romance because they’re breaking hearts as

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PC who’s Fighting the Fraudsters

Meet the Sussex PC whose drive, Operation Signature, helps prevent thousands of fraud victims from being conned out of millions of pounds

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Investigations soon discovered that Tom was bombarded with up to 20 calls a day and 150 scam letters per week.

WEB OF LIESTrapped in a web of lies, Tom was tricked into sending money. Bernie talks through the logistics of how she protected Tom by changing his phone number, redirecting mail and blocking him from sending money overseas.

“In just two hours, I changed Tom’s quality of life,” says Bernie. “But Tom was devastated. It hit him hard

Did you know?1 in 5 people fall victim to fraud every year.

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BIG INTERVIEW

well as fleecing money. Typically, fraudsters contact someone on a dating site using stolen photos from other profiles. They gain trust saying they’re widowed, divorced or bereaved and looking for love. Then they use a variety of sob stories, eg, a sick child to make victims part with their money.

Over time, victims end up broke because they taken out loans or remortgage their home with no idea it’s about to end.

“They’ve done it as a stake in their future expecting to live happy-ever-after,” says Bernie. “When I break the news that £89,000 is never coming back, and the person they’re in love with, who they pinned all their hopes and dreams on, is in fact, a criminal with a false identity they feel shame and embarrassment.”

FRAUD LANDSCAPECertainly, the fraud landscape has changed dramatically within a short space of time. Investment fraud and romance fraud rack up the highest losses, the former, tricking victims in to handing over money for non-existent schemes.

Usually romance fraud slips under the radar longer, while courier and web fraud tend to involve lower losses because they get spotted sooner.

“Victims are being groomed,” says Bernie. “You get cold-called out of the blue and lose money. But if there’s no intervention they carry on, because if a fraudster’s hooked you, they won’t willingly give you up.

An old lady may be living with dementia with no family, and the only man who knows is a rogue builder who keeps coming back for more cheques.”

So, how powerful are fraudsters? “Hugely. It’s organised crime, fraudsters are the most devious criminals with access to technology far outweighing some of our own.”

It is chilling to hear how with just a few clicks of a mouse, a fraudster can hack your emails and view what you’re looking at, as if they’re right beside you.

Criminals often ring claiming to be from Microsoft and ask if you’re experiencing any IT problems. They use technology to access your banking page and move your savings straight into their current account.

“Money bounces through 20 bank accounts in half a day, so all you’re doing is chasing money that’s gone,” says Bernie.

Asked if fraud victims are also enablers, Bernie is

only full of empathy. “A ‘scam’ suggests a cheeky trickster,

but I see fraud victims crushed and their confidence drained. They suffer anxiety, depression and even feel suicidal.

“Family members are powerless, and in crude terms, adult children find it hard to sit by and watch their inheritance go down the pan,” she adds. “And seeing your nearest and dearest brainwashed and fleeced is never easy.”

REPEAT VICTIMISATIONOp Signature has been a towering success. Sussex Police has a process for treating victims of all fraud as crime victims, and takes preventative steps to safeguard them from further targeting. They include; changing their

phone number, installing call blocking devices and referring them to other agencies.

Bernie also provides training to police recruits and call handlers, and spreads the word in the community, via newsletters, leaflets and social media.

Bernie’s work was praised by the National Police Chiefs Council and recommended as best practice for forces nationwide.

“What’s unique is the pattern of repeat victimization, says Bernie. “You’d be unlucky to get your car stolen twice, but fraud is the opposite. Rogue traders aren’t just guilty of one offence, they’re doing the circuit.”

She welcomes the Banking Protocol, a national process between banks, police and the post office. Banks train staff to spot if someone is about to fall victim to a scam, and if anything doesn’t add up, they phone 999.

“For us, it’s perfect,” says Bernie. “We take the victim home and run through our whole Op Signature checks to detect vulnerability. To date, we’ve made 48 arrests and saved almost £5m.”

For fraud victims in Sussex, the average scam costs £23,000. But

what’s striking is that they don’t know they’re victims until it’s too late.

Having set up Britain’s first police system to improve how fraud victims are protected, Bernie is keen to share her wisdom with agencies involved in caring for them.

“If you spot the phone ringing a lot, or a mountain of receipts, tell us,” she says. “Fraud happens behind closed doors. It doesn’t matter how many police are on the streets – you won’t spot it. It’s not easy getting people talking about their money or romance, which makes it so hard to identify.

“One thing’s for certain, the success and impact of Op Signature makes it essential why every police force needs to adopt a similar process.

There’s no reason why victims in Sussex can be afforded protection but victims in other parts of the country miss out, because victims suffer exactly the same.” ■

Rogue traders aren’t just guilty of one offence, they’re doing

the circuit.

VC NEWS ISSUE 4

Why it’s more than OK to say #HeToo

AAFDA is a centre of excellence for reviews after domestic homicide and provides specialist and expert advocacy to the bereaved families.

As spoof Minister for Ham Sandwiches, I gave these treats a voice, making them more than just hideouts for escaped condiments. I

played this role at our peer support weekend for families bereaved by, primarily, domestic homicide. Held at Hank Marvin’s old pad in Devon, we came out of the shadows for a joyous event. Thanks to the families, the AAFDA advocates, my deputy Sarah Dangar and for the exquisite art and good humour from the internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, harpist, Hattie Webb.

Equally important is the specialist and expert advocacy we provide to c. 140 families a year. It helps minimise the trauma that the criminal justice system can unintentionally inflict, by empowering families to take proactive roles in statutory reviews. Instead of participating passively, they become integral, ie as key stakeholders so their percipience gets recognised. Families report that this raised status conceives a sense of achievement and a feeling they have done what they can, so important to avoiding long term stress.

Many families seek our help for unexplained deaths or suicides following domestic abuse. We advocate for an appropriate review and provide the ongoing specialist and expert advocacy. There is no funding for these cases.

We strive to achieve a harmonious relationship between officials and family, championing that reviews should not be about blame but about freeing professionals to be their creative best to make the future safer. Families often say they don’t want these horrors recurring.

And, we provide training, including on how to conduct Domestic Homicide Reviews and on working with families after homicide.

The dark subject does not imprison us. We will plan for joy in the next gathering to facilitate each of us being what Eger called the “author of choice and not the victim of fate” (The Choice, 2017).

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Frank Mullane MBEHonorary Fellow of the University of Gloucestershire

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New VC logoIn the New Year, we unveiled our new VC logo. The old sunset image is out, replaced by a butterfly, a symbol of hope in uplifting pink. Big thanks to our talented designer Emily Maguire for all her hard work.

Support for Victims of The TroublesThe SEFF LIVES Project is the free, confidential victims’ service based in London. They aim to serve innocent victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ and related terror attacks in England, Scotland and Wales. Their Advocacy Worker Aitor supports individuals and families to seek out truth, justice and acknowledgement following an incident, empowering victims and finding avenues to find answers to unresolved questions. The Health and Wellbeing Caseworker Rufia supports individuals in creating a holistic approach to improving physical and psychological health, building a network to boost resilience and coping mechanisms for trauma. The team visit victims at home all over England, provide phone support and have a drop-in office in Central London.

BEFORE STEPPING down, Baroness Newlove called for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) to be given a powerful voice in government.

CSA wrecks lives, and there has been an institutional failure to tackle it. Now the VC has called for victims to be provided with full support to rebuild their lives.

Baroness Newlove said: “Abuse causes catastrophic damage to health and harms victims’ ability to form lasting, loving relationships or hold down steady employment.”

Now she calls on the Government

to appoint a CSA Commissioner saying: “I believe only a CSA Commissioner can champion Victims’ needs, monitor support and hold police and criminal justice agencies to account. They can ensure that victims’ voices are heard - they deserve nothing less.”

For more contact: Aitor (Advocacy worker): 07860850017 or Rufia (Health and Wellbeing Caseworker) on 07718488383.

VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE NEED A COMMISSIONER

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