Details soon on victim adviser job

Plans to create a chief adviser for victims of crime are being pushed ahead, with Justice Minister Amy Adams expected to reveal more details of the long-awaited role within a few weeks.

Eight years ago, victims advocacy group Sensible Sentencing Trust called for the establishment of a victims commissioner to give victims a greater say in the justice system.

Adams said yesterday that officials had advised her on options about how the role would function, its level of independence from government, and its relationship with the Ministry of Justice.

‘‘I’ll be in a position to provide greater details about the role in the next few weeks. I understand that it can be quite traumatic for victims to go through the court process and retell their story while being questioned about the circumstances of the crime.

‘‘For this reason, the appointment of a chief adviser on victims remains absolutely something I’m committed to.’’

Establishing the new role was one of the projects funded by $10 million allocated in the 2015-16 Budget for the Government’s Investing in Justice programme. ‘‘The purpose of the chief adviser on victims will be to improve victims’ experience of the justice sys- tem by informing me of victims’ views and how victims’ experiences can be improved,’’ she said.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said he welcomed progress on the new role. The group met Adams about a month ago to discuss the position and other victims’ issues.

He said the new adviser should have direct contact with victims, but it sounded as if that might not happen. It was also important that the adviser was experienced with victims’ issues. ‘‘It’s vital, in my opinion, to have first-hand on-theground experience on what victims face on a day-to-day basis.’’

McVicar said he would be interested in applying for the role, but also suggested other high-profile trust members could suit it, including Lesley Elliott, whose daughter Sophie was murdered by Clayton Weatherston in 2008.

Meanwhile, public consultation about the Draft Victims’ Code of Rights closed yesterday. A Justice Ministry spokesman said all submissions would be considered, before a revised version of the code would be presented to Adams.

‘‘We are aiming to have the revised version to her office in the next few months.’’

Adams previously said the draft victims’ code would help to ensure victims were better informed and put them at the justice system’s heart.