A message from Durham Police and Crime Commissioners Office... Progress for Victims Rights Announced.

Imagine finding the courage to report one of the most traumatic crimes imaginable.

You tell strangers the most intimate details, you re-live and re-tell your ordeal over and over again. You put your faith and trust in the criminal justice system because you believe justice will be done and the perpetrator will be brought to justice. Then you are given the devastating new that the prosecution is being dropped.

For too many rape victims, that has been the end of the road.

That is why this week’s announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service matters. Victims of rape and serious sexual offences will be able to request an independent review by another prosecutor before an eligible prosecution is formally stopped.

As Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, I welcome this reform. But I also believe it shines a light on a much bigger question.

What does a first-class service to victims really look like?

That question sits at the very heart of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan. For me, a first-class service isn’t simply about providing support after a crime has happened. It means building a justice system that puts victims at the centre of every decision, treats them with dignity and respect, keeps them informed, gives them a voice and never loses sight of the human being behind every case file.

Yet too many victims tell me that navigating the justice system became a second trauma. Endless delays. Poor communication. Decisions they struggle to understand. Feeling powerless while their lives remain on hold.

Every one of those experiences damages confidence, not just for the victim, but for everyone wondering whether it is worth reporting these horrific crimes in the first place.

That is why delivering justice is about far more than securing convictions. It is about ensuring every victim feels heard, respected and supported, whatever the outcome. It is about making sure decisions are transparent, rights under the Victims’ Code are upheld, and victims are never left wondering whether their case received the attention it deserved.

The CPS announcement is an important step in that direction because if we genuinely want more victims to come forward, we must also tackle the unacceptable delays that leave people waiting years for justice. 

We must ensure specialist support is available from the moment a crime is reported. We must continue improving communication between police, prosecutors and the courts. And we must keep asking whether every part of our justice system is working as hard for victims as victims have worked to find the courage to come forward.

As Chair of our Local Criminal Justice Board, that is exactly what I will continue to demand on behalf of victims across County Durham and Darlington.

My Police, Crime and Justice Plan is built on five priorities: preventing crime, protecting communities, delivering a first-class service to victims, bringing offenders to justice and reducing reoffending. They are not separate ambitions. They are all part of one promise: to build a justice system that commands public confidence because it never forgets who it exists to serve.

This week’s announcement is welcomed. But our ambition should be far greater. We need to strive for a criminal justice system that puts victims first, pursues offenders relentlessly and one that never gives up on those brave enough to come forward.