Victims Right to Review

The sense of frustration when justice fails to be served can be profoundly distressing.

Increasingly over-stretched police forces are having to concede and abandon investigations in which there are insufficient resources or enough time to conduct effective explorations of evidence.

Indeed, many media reports have highlighted the fact that burglaries are routinely not investigated for these reasons.

Although most people are aware that a conviction at court can be appealed, it is not so well know that recently it has become easier for a victim of crime to request that the authorities revisit cases and complaints.

The Victim’s Right to Review is a scheme operated by police forces in England and Wales as well as the Crown Prosecution Service.

This review is open to those who have been a victim of crime, and it may be that this right is not highlighted when the victim is informed that the case will go no further.

In order to qualify for the scheme two conditions have to be satisfied:

• the offence must be deemed a crime in line with the general rules for recording crime that have been adopted by all forces in England and Wales since April 2002.

• a suspect must have been identified and interviewed under caution, either following an arrest or by voluntary arrangement.

Often, unresolved investigations of domestic violence, harassment, cyber-bullying and unwanted disclosure of images on social media can leave victims feeling there is nowhere else to seek advice.

If you feel let down by an investigation then contact the criminal defence solicitors at Carson Kaye who can guide you through the process.

This may involve conducting independent investigations, making written submissions on existing evidence and negotiating with the police to resume all or part of a complaint.

To find out more about this service contact our criminal defence solicitors by email info@carsonkaye.co.uk or phone 0203 735 7358.