Kentish Express Ashford & District
Powerful start to change culture
More than 50 representatives from charities, support services and the police attended the launch.
Among them was Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove, who came to prominence in 2007 after her husband Gary was punched and kicked to death by a gang of youths outside their home.
Mr Newlove was attacked outside his house in Warrington, Cheshire, after confronting youths who he suspected had vandalised his wife’s car. He died in hospital two days later.
She gave an emotional speech to guests at Compass House about how her three daughters were dragged through the court system as the key witnesses to their father’s horrifying murder.
She added: “Victims are on the outside of the criminal justice system because the process doesn’t recognise a victim, because the prosecutor is for the state.
“We have to shift the culture pattern. We have to be more focused on the victim’s needs.
“We talk about crimes as high level or low level. When Gary died it was originally an antisocial behaviour case, which is classed as low level crime.
“But it isn’t low level. It’s the most impactive time and you are not getting any help.
“Gary went out that night to see who damaged my car. Gary never came back.
“I woke up a wife and went to bed a widow. How would you class what happened to Gary, low level, or high level?
“I think it’s not about the crime, it’s about the impact and how he died is important.
“There’s a huge culture change we have to shift, but this is a very powerful start to changing that.”