Victims commissioner resigns and says she has been sidelined

In a letter to the Minister of Justice Brandon LewisDame Vera said that under his predecessor, Dominic Raabshe was twice invited to apply for a second term in the position, which was due to expire in June.

But despite the fact that we have received guarantees from the Department of Justice that she was considered an “appointable” candidate, there had still been no appointment and the recruitment process was being rerun.

“Asking me to reapply as two opportunities to reappoint me have already passed and my office no longer has much access to ministers seems more like a ploy to keep me in place as a short-term nominal postholder than a real invitation,” she said.

“In addition, the Victims’ Bill remains inadequate and the British Bill of Rights poses such a serious threat to the human rights of victims that it undermines the little progress the Victims’ Bill will bring.

“This lowering of victims’ interests in the government’s priorities, along with the sidelines of the Victims Commissioner’s Office and the curious recruitment process, make it clear to me that there is nothing to gain for the victims if I remain in my post. the current extension.

“As such, my term expires on September 30.”

Dame Vera, a former Labor The MP, Solicitor General and Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, was originally appointed to the victims’ rights position in 2019.

In her letter, however, she said that unlike her predecessor, she was not offered an automatic second term, although she was “highly encouraged” to apply when it opened to competition earlier this year.

At the same time, she complained about a lack of access to ministers and that she had not met Mr Raab once since he invited her to reapply in February.

“The lack of engagement from the top at a time of great upheaval for victims poorly reflected the Justice Department’s priorities and the government’s approach,” she said.