NEWS Anger as victims left out

VICTIMS of crime are “irrelevant” to the justice system and that is leading frustrated community members down a path of anger and vigilantism, according to a victims’ advocate.

Like thousands of other Territorians, Victims of Crime NT acting chief executive Jacinta Stanford has had her home broken into and treasured valuables stolen several times in the past two and a half decades.

In not one of those instances was she called on as a witness or even told if police had found the perpetrators.

“The victim doesn’t have any agency in our justice system. The victim doesn’t have a voice,” she said.

Ms Stanford said involving victims of crime in the justice system more directly would help to heal wounds and quell the frustration bubbling away in the community.

“This anger builds and builds and you get these young men in Palmerston whose natural reaction to that is to be angry,” she said.

These angry young men can

“The victim doesn’t have a voice”

VICTIMS OF CRIME’S JACINTA STANFORD exacerbate the problem by forming vigilante groups, the likes of which are constantly popping up on social media.

“People feel frustrated because there’s no opportunity for them to experience what they feel would count as justice for them,” Ms Stanford said.

The Labor Government has pledged millions for a suite of measures to curb crime in the NT, including victim conferencing.

But Ms Stanford said that, too, was overwhelmingly focused on the offender, rather than providing any benefit for the victim.

She said appointing a victims of crime commissioner, who would provide a community impact statement in court, would help to give victims the voice they deserved.

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN P12