Victims’ Commissioner concerned as trust in policing continues to erode

The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales data reveals a stark downward trend in sentiment towards local policing. Only 49 per cent of respondents rated their local police as doing a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ job – down from 62 per cent a decade ago – and just two-thirds (67 per cent) reported confidence in them, a drop from 76 per cent in 2015.

The survey also highlights widening inequalities, with disabled victims reporting even lower levels of confidence and satisfaction in policing.

Commenting on the findings, the Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, raised concern about the continued erosion of victim trust, while noting the troubling impact on disabled victims – findings that echo her own research:

“As these figures make clear, victims’ trust in the police continues to erode,” she said.

“At the same time, a troubling precedent is taking hold: a system clearly losing the confidence of disabled victims — a finding that sadly mirrors my own research where disabled victims described a system failing to meet their needs. Who you are should not and must not dictate the treatment you receive as a victim, nor your chances at justice.”

Baroness Newlove also warned of the persistently low awareness of the Victims’ Code, which sets out the rights of victims of crime.

Stressing that these rights must be enforced in practice, not simply exist on paper, she added: “Awareness of the Victims’ Code remains worryingly low, leaving too many victims unsure of the standards of treatment they should be able to expect. Long waits for justice only compound the problem.

“Put simply, victim treatment must improve. Rights that exist only on paper are of little comfort; Code rights must be enforced, with victims empowered and in no doubt about what they are entitled to.

“We must not allow these challenges to further undermine victim confidence in the police.”