Wiltshire charity backs need for Criminal Justice System reform
A report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner says the system is failing victims of abuse
A Wiltshire charity has told Greatest Hits Radio failings in the criminal justice system are stopping people reporting crimes.
It follows a damning report from Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, which revealed only 5% of recorded reach a conviction.
FearFree CEO Debbie Beadle has backed the need for an overhaul of the criminal justice system.
"There needs to be real systematic changes. There needs to be more sustainable funding for specialist organisations," she said.
Debbie told us that a lack of sustainable funding means there isn't enough cash to support the services that the charity needs to deliver.
She added that it's having an impact on staffing: "For us to attain good specialist workers that stay with us is really hard. And with the amount of referrals that we're getting our caseloads are high and our workers are constantly under strain. It's a really difficult job to do."
The Commissioner's report highlighted delays and a lack of information, as well as Protection Orders not being used effectively, which Debbie said is adding to the strain for everyone.
"It means that the victims are often really fearful, really confused, and that in turn, puts a lot of pressure on our workers as well," she said.
Debbie told us that the charity feels 'let down' by the fact that Protection Orders and other tools available aren't used effectively, but admitted that policing faces it's own challenges in staffing and resourcing.
"What there really needs to be is training and awareness. I think that one of the issues is, is that often victims are going through these services and not necessarily with the compassion and understanding that they need. They're struggling themselves."
Fleeing domestic abuse is not easy and coupled with a criminal justice system where there can be gaps in information and changing court dates, it can become even more stressful.
Debbie told us it's leading to people questioning going through the process.
"Lots of the people that we're working with are kind of saying, why bother? Why go for this process when actually there's nothing that's going to happen at the end of this. And obviously what's difficult then is that they are often then talking to other people, going through this process and advising them not to," she said.
More information about domestic abuse can be found on FearFree's website.