Why does the right to abuse trump the right to be safe & protected, and why must the victim change to avoid this abuse?

After the recent high profile twitter abuse against female campaigners, MP’s and journalists, I was shocked to see the same old advice being dispensed. These people were told simply ‘to stop using twitter and social media’ to avoid the abuse. Some even went as far as to say that the abuse on twitter was ‘right to freedom of speech’.

For ten years I’ve been subjected to the same ignorant advice regarding my stalker and told to ‘change your phone, move house, change your daughters nursery, change your routine, have people chaperone you to and from work’. Bottom line, I am forced to change my life continuously in order to counteract this stalking whereas this man can continue his criminal behaviour, but the agencies cannot seem to stop him. Therefore, responsibility falls on the victim to change their behaviour and routine and gone is the freedom to make a decision in life without considering the perpetrator first. So it seems easier to place restrictions on the law abiding victim than the actual perpetrator. Is that justice?

As a result of this ordeal, I’ve never used social media personally, never posted any information on our children, family holiday photos or kids achievements as many proud parents love to do. I know it doesn’t seem much of a loss but I enviously watch my friends post photos of their families and it upsets me that I have no freedom to choose if that is something I would like to do or not.

My children’s schools and activities were forced to take place in the one mile radius of my home as that was the stretch of the restraining order. To put them anywhere else would mean they were not protected by the restraining order. Is it right, that the victims are placed in the prison of a restraining order or confined by the demands of their abuser? I’ve been told ‘you shouldn’t have sent your daughter to a nursery just over a mile from your home as he did have a right to be in that area as it’s not on the restraining order exclusion zone’. Even though this man had no children so did he have a ‘right’ to look around the nursery that his victim’s child attends as a prospective parent? I’ve been advised again not to mention this breach publicly as thanks to the criminal justice agencies’ apathy he wasn’t actually convicted on this charge. Thanks to their apathy, they simply told me to move my daughter and place her in a nursery within the restraining order zone. Of course, it was totally my fault, how dare I want to choose a nursery for my daughter? I’m a victim; I don’t have a right to do what I want and it seems that we live in a culture that finds it easier to blame the victim’s harmless actions than the actual perpetrators harmful actions. As a consequence, I moved my daughter from her nursery and then had to keep her at home as no nursery would take her due to risk and I then wasn’t able to work as a result of this. But, no, best not mention this incident in case I offend my stalker’s rights and he’ll want to sue me again!

I’ve even been berated by some police officers for talking to media and professionals about my experience and for campaigning for the changes to the stalking laws. This was seen as ‘attracting his attention’ and I only had myself to blame when he sued me yet again for my campaign work for changing the law. The more I speak, the more I’m punished. But like the outspoken twitter victims this week, you do get to a point where you just have to say “ENOUGH! You’ve abused me for too long” and it’s time to fight back.

I’m also tired of hearing about the rights of the abuser. I’m frankly bored of hearing that my stalker had a right to sue me (one case that I contested at high court and won!) I’ve also had to endure that my stalker claims that he has a ‘human right to stalk me’. Well guess what? I have a human right to not be stalked! These women had a right not to receive a torrent of abusive ‘rape threat’ tweets and David Baddiel certainly doesn’t have a right to be subjected to anti-Semitic abuse.

My stalker and others’ perpetrators have a right to privacy on what they look like on release from prison and we, the victim, have no right in knowing if they have been rehabilitated or even treated. Rights and secrecy protect the abusers, and the victims should remain silent and fearful with no right to speak out as this is publicly frowned upon.

But the tides are changing; victims are putting their fear temporarily aside and speaking out to force change. Together we need to push for the state to accept that abusers of all forms – from trolls and stalkers to harassers and bullies – will not be tolerated in any form and they do not have the right to engender fear and anxiety.

Voice 4 Victims is about victims coming together, uniting and shouting out that they have a right to be protected by the state when a crime is committed. They have a right to information, protection, support, representation and to be communicated to in an appropriate manner. Too many victims are subjected to thoughtless comments and language from media, public and criminal justice agencies.

We need to keep addressing the issue of the lack of training and awareness for stalking, trolling, bullying, harassment and hate crimes that force their victims into years of solitude and isolation. The state is slow at recognising and understanding these crimes and too many victims are forced to just ‘live with it’ and change their life to avoid it.

I’m proud of every victim that has stood up recently in the face of fear and said ‘NO, I will not accept this’. Now the Criminal Justice system needs to follow suit and shield these victims from these abusers.

The CPS have introduced the Victims Right to Review and now allow victims the opportunity to challenge CPS decisions of not charging or dropping a prosecution. CPS will be reviewing this after three months and it will be interesting to see if they have enough resources to cope with this and if any decisions are reversed as a result of the review.

Victims right to review

Claire Waxman discussing CPS announcement of VRR on Radio:

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This is a welcome introduction and we will be keeping an eye on this to ensure that it is rolled out nationally as it will only be tested in three locations first. We are also keen to ensure that all ‘vulnerable’ witnesses will be offered the chance to pre-record their evidence.

Victims to be spared from harrowing court cases

Whilst the reform of the victims code sets out to explain the criminal justice process to the victim and outlines the journey the victim can expect, it is just a ‘code’, a signpost if you will and nothing more. By its own definition, the code is not legally enforceable and therefore, ‘If a service provider fails to provide you with the services that you are entitled to under this Code that does not in itself make the provider liable to any legal proceedings.’

Therefore, how is the proposed reform a significant advance on the current code that is in place? Sadly it is not.

How can the code properly safeguard the rights of victims of crime?

It can’t – even though this should be its primary purpose!

Agencies can and will continue to ignore the code either through lack of awareness of what is in it or because agencies fail to do their job properly. Louise Casey, former Victims Commissioner rightly said ‘ ..victims are afforded vague codes and unenforceable charters, with no real route of complaint’. This code is being updated and reformed, but this appears to be little more than a tweaking of the current code, which holds very little weight legally as none of it is enforceable and agencies can expect nothing more than a ‘point of the finger’ when they fail to meet the standards set out in this code. Therefore, does this code show a real care, understanding or commitment to victims in this country?

In my opinion, the government is taking the approach of spending or rather, wasting time , energy and resources on reforming something that will prove to be meaningless. Personally, ALL agencies have breached the victims’ code many times during my case. As a victim, I was given the option to write a complaints letter and after receiving a long winded apology letter which offered me no redress, then what? It was then up to me to navigate through a complicated complaints system in order for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen to hear my complaints. But I ask the question again, then what? Sadly, nothing. Mistakes are made again and there is no incentive on these bodies to do anything more than apologise. The victim, however is left in the soul destroying position of being treated with little or no respect by the very agencies that are supposed to ensure that they receive justice. The code, like this government, in relation to victims rights, shows no backbone, no teeth nor real commitment to the victim.

Showing a commitment to the rights of victims and giving agencies the clear message that treating victims in a manner that only exacerbates their pain and suffering must not be tolerated, is quite straightforward: place victims’ rights into statutory law to ensure ALL criminal justice agencies have to do their job properly and therefore, ensure victims basic rights are upheld within the criminal justice process. Many MP’s from all parties have claimed to want to place victims’ rights first and at the heart of the criminal justice system. Sadly, just empty words with no meaning otherwise a victims rights bill would be a reality.

If you are a victim of crime or work with victims, by all means spend your time answering the questions on this victims code reform consultation and do make your views heard. But, if you are truly dedicated to victims and the rights of victims in this country, then you should be asking the same question – why are we reforming a code that is legally unenforceable and repeatedly ignored when we could be doing this job properly and placing victims rights into statutory law?

Victims Code Reform Consultation>>

CRIME victim Claire Waxman has launched a scathing attack on the criminal justice system which has caused her as much anguish as the stalker who ruined her life.

She has called on the Government to create a “Victims Bill” of legal rights and protection to end what she says is “state-sanctioned abuse, marginalisation and discrimination” of crime victims.

During nearly a decade of torment, Claire, 37, discovered police originally laughed off her complaints of stalking and, when the harassment continued even after the offender had spent time in jail, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a case against him for fear of breaching HIS human rights.

Now the stalker is back on the streets and Claire this week told The Sun how the Probation Service, which was meant to warn her of his release, did not know they were meant to do so until she told them.

To read the full article on thesun.co.uk please click the button below:

Read The Full Article>>

To hear Claire Waxman speak out about why we need this victims bill, listen to her on Victoria Derbyshire 22nd February 2013 by clicking the button below.

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Stalking victim Claire Waxman believes she has been let down so badly by the criminal justice system and that this form of ‘state sanctioned abuse, marginalisation and discrimination’ should no longer be tolerated by victims of crime.

Claire who helped campaign for the new stalking law last year is campaigning for a victim’s bill to ensure better protection and rights for victims within the criminal justice system.

According to Claire

“I can list numerous times the victim code or guidelines have been breached in just my case alone. CPS and Probation Services have admitted to their mistakes in my case but can offer me no redress and the quality of service I still receive from them is sub-standard and at times, appalling. I’ve been told that it’s just my bad luck that my case fell into the wrong prosecutor’s hands or my case slipped through the net at probation! This is not bad luck, this is sadly the way the CJS treats the victim and these mistakes are not unique, they are happening across the board, time and time again to victims of all crimes in this country. The Government and the Criminal Justice system have a duty to the victim which they are breaching”.

On 30th January, 2012 The Government signed up to the European Directive for Victims and Witness’s. The Directive offers victims of crime basic fundamental rights within the criminal justice process. The European Directive was launched at the European Parliament on 26th November 2012.

Many believe this directive has come a little too late for victims like Claire, who has not only had to endure the traumatic experience of being the victim of a long and horrendous 10 year stalking campaign at the hands of her stalker, but the complete lack of respect and disregard for her safety by Criminal Justice Agencies, has been appalling.

Unless this Directive is used as a framework to develop a strong and effective law protecting the rights for victims, they will live with the fear that the directive may not be fully implemented and they will continue to be treated as second class citizens while their offenders are protected by strict human rights laws.

Claire reported

“Having been stalked for a decade, I’ve not only been a victim of a stalker but a victim of the criminal justice system. I have been consistently let down by many of the agencies throughout and during my case. I am appalled at the poor level of treatment I have received especially considering I am not the one guilty one”.

“The system’s failings have caused me, on some days, more stress, anguish and depression than the original crime and I’ve been left isolated with no support. I completely relate to the disgraceful treatment of Frances Andrade and it makes my blood boil that the system has been allowed to bully and abuse victims in this way for so long and treat them like a piece of evidence instead of seeing them as real people with emotions”.

“I believe that the time has come to strengthen the rights of Victims in this country and we should be taking the European Directive as a platform to develop further to ensure that victims’ rights are firmly placed within statutory law , no different to what is happening in Scotland. It is absurd we cannot unify this response to victims across the UK.

Scotland who started developing their victim’s bill in 2011, in preparation for the new Directive is showing they are taking their duty to the victim seriously and so should we.

It’s time this country stood up and recognised the abuse victims are experiencing from the criminal justice system and do something about it. Victims should have a right to be involved and represented within the criminal justice process. They should be treated with respect and dignity, have the right to access justice, the right to have their voice heard and the right to receive information, support and protection. These should be the basic principles on which we develop a robust victim’s bill”.

“I believe that the Government plans to implement the European Directive through the revision of their victims’ codes and agency guidelines. We all know these practices hold very little weight and have no teeth as they are not legally enforceable”.

Scotland has taken the landmark step to place victims’ rights at the centre of the justice process. Are we any less valuable in England & Wales? It is important all agencies support members of the public and victims of crime to come forward and speak out in support of what we are trying to achieve.

In March 2009 Ann Moulds, Anti-stalking campaigner and victims’ rights campaigner was successful in leading the way to have stalking recognised as a criminal offence. This opened the doors to allow England & Wales to follow suit. Ann has continued to fight and speak out for victims’ rights within her own country and on the European Stage. On 26th November 2012 she presented at the European Parliament in support of the launch of the European Directive. Working closely with Victims Support Scotland and other agencies, Ann is supporting the development of Scotland’s new Victims & Witnesses Bill.

Quote form Ann Moulds of Action Scotland Against Stalking’

“ I am so sad to hear about Claire’ s experience within the Criminal Justice System, but her experience is not unique.

The criminal Justice system has been specifically structured to meet the needs of the offender. It has created a pathway for them and none for the victim. It is very hard for a victim to challenge a system they are not constitutionally a part of, never mind a stakeholder in the crime committed against them. In most cases it is the victim who initiates the justice process yet they are the ones who are quickly forgotten, being forcibly reminded that in this system, the victim becomes irrelevant and the lasting harm caused by the crime is regarded by the system as utterly beside the point.

The launch of the European Directive proposes a transitory move from victims as peripheral to victims participating as part of the criminal justice process, but it doesn’t go far enough. To ensure victims’ rights are respected and upheld they need to be further protected by being placed within statutory UK law. The manner in which this country has treated victims of crime should be viewed as one of our national shames and the introduction of a victim’s bill is the least we can do for victims of crime in our country”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“Claire is absolutely right that victims often get too little help, information and support – and that’s why her campaign is so important.

“As we saw recently with the tragic case of Frances Andrade, even where there is national guidance on support for victims by the police, CPS or courts, it isn’t always followed. And that means victims of crime are let down by the system that is supposed to protect them.

“That is why Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister Sadiq Khan has called for a new victim’s law. We are keen to work with Claire now on what should be done to make the criminal justice system work for victims.”

Many other charities and organisations such as Protection Against Stalking, Action Scotland Against Stalking, Enough Abuse, MAAMA UK and many others would all welcome a bill for victims.

It is vital that victims of crime are awarded rights in order to ensure their protection and to maintain public trust in the effectiveness and equality of the criminal justice system.