Petition Victims' Law

Rights within the new Victims' Law should include:

*the Right of Homicide Victims' families to be treated with dignity and respect by all forms of media/filmakers and/or stage productions to seek permission to use images or facts for any reason other than essential news reporting
•a Criminal Practice Direction to ensure families are treated with dignity and respect during court proceedings;
•the right to information from the Crown Prosecution Service and to meet with the CPS lawyer at key stages of the legal process, including on convictions, acquittal or appeal;
•the right to sentencing remarks from judges in writing and trial transcripts at a nil/minimal cost to families;
•the release of a body by the coroner back to a family for burial within 28 days unless exceptional circumstances apply; and
•that families will be provided with an integrated package of help and support following the death and up until any trial and beyond.