Crime

Fewer than half of victims believe they can get justice, says Victims’ Commissioner

Published

5 months ago

October 19, 2025

FEWER than half of victims believe they can get justice, according to a major new survey published by the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove.

The 2025 Victims Survey, based on responses from more than 6,500 victims – the largest ever conducted by the Commissioner – exposes a serious lack of confidence in the system, with only 42% believing they can obtain justice, 46% confident in its effectiveness, and 51% in its fairness.

Victims denied a voice

Many victims report being denied a voice at critical stages of the process. Some were refused the right to read their Victim Personal Statement (VPS) in court, and only 14% knew they had the right to challenge a decision to drop their case.

One victim of domestic abuse, a woman aged 55–64, said: “I was never allowed to speak in court as a victim… never allowed any voice… never allowed to read my three different VPS during three cases, nine hearings in all and two sentence hearings.”

Victims frequently described feeling isolated, unheard, and treated as a statistic rather than a person.

Confidence gaps across groups

Confidence in the justice system varies widely across groups. Only a third of LGBTQ+ victims were confident they could receive justice by reporting a crime, while fewer than half of disabled victims and female victims believed the system was fair.

The report also reveals troubling patterns in reporting rates. Forty-one per cent of rape and sexual assault victims did not report the incident, and 36% of hate crime victims did not report. Nearly a third of Asian and Black victims (32%) chose not to report, compared to 21% of white victims. Among young people aged 16–24, the non-reporting rate was 38%, nearly double that of older victims.

One young victim of sexual assault said: “I feel like race and sex is always a factor when you report a crime or are seeking justice. You won’t always be treated fairly.”

Poor communication and delays

Victims cited poor communication and delays as major reasons for losing faith in the justice process. Some reported cases collapsing after statutory time limits expired, while others faced years of waiting for trials.

A victim of assault, aged 35–44, said: “The CPS unnecessary delays meant the perpetrator was unable to be charged because they let six months go past through no fault of my own.”

Another rape survivor described the toll of the long wait: “Too stressful, took too long. It ruined my life and I thought I’d lose my family if I carried on with the case.”

Police under pressure

While fewer than half of victims said their case was investigated thoroughly (43%) or that they were kept informed (40%), many recognised the resource challenges facing officers.

“It was obvious that the police were trying their best but were short staffed,” said one male assault victim, 55–64.

Overall, 68% of victims said they would still report a crime again, though this figure dropped sharply among rape and sexual assault survivors.

The report highlights the value of specialist police training, such as that delivered under Operation Soteria, in improving trust. “They appeared to be well trained… professional and compassionate, yet unbiased,” said a female victim, 45–54.

Need for clearer communication

More than two-thirds of victims praised the support they received from court staff and volunteers, but many still said they were left uninformed about the outcome of their case. One in five said the conviction or sentence was not properly explained to them – a finding that comes ahead of the UK Government’s forthcoming Sentencing Bill.

Baroness Newlove said: “These voices matter. They are telling us not only what is working, but crucially where the system is failing victims – the very people it is meant to protect. One of the most striking and worrying findings is the lack of confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. If victims lose faith, they may stop coming forward – and justice cannot be delivered if victims are silent. All victims deserve to be treated with decency and respect. That means good communication, tailored support, and a clear understanding of their rights. This report sends a very clear message that we have a great deal of work to do to rebuild victim confidence in the system.”

The full report, including over 150 victim testimonies, is available to download from the Victims’ Commissioner’s website.

Crime

Woman fined over £1,000 for illegally collecting rent without a licence

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A HAVERFORDWEST woman has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 after admitting to unlawfully collecting rent at a property she was not licensed to manage.

Majeda Sikdar appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place at a property on Tasker Way in the town last April.

The court handed Sikdar a total bill of £1,046, made up of a £293 fine, £636 in costs, and a £117 surcharge.

Crime

Dangerous driver sentenced following a police chase through Carmarthenshire streets

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A DANGEROUS driver has been sentenced after attempting to evade the police and hitting speeds of up to 70mph in residential streets.

Liam Williams, 31, from Station Road in Llanelli, was arrested on February 23 after he failed to stop for officers whilst driving without a valid licence and under the influence of drugs.

His black Jaguar XF was spotted travelling along New Dock Road, Llanelli, at around 2am. Williams quickly accelerated away from officers after turning into a residential area. Despite being warned to stop with blue lights, he reached an estimated speed of 50mph over the speed bumps on the 20mph road.

He then cut across a junction and turned on to the 40mph coastal road on the wrong side of a bollard. He continued to reach around 80mph to try and get away from pursuing officers.

Williams was unaware that Dyfed-Powys officers had set up a stinger site to puncture his tyres further along the road. He sped through the stinger site and continued towards the sandpiper roundabout. He reached speeds of 70mph and then appeared to lose control of the car at the roundabout. Officers noted that his front offside tyre was deflated and his brake disc was red hot and sparking.

Despite this, Williams exited the roundabout towards Llanelli town centre and appeared to lose control again. Officers attempted to pass him as he accelerated back up to speeds around 50mph on the 20mph road. Williams turned into smaller side streets to try and escape but was quickly followed by supporting officers.

As he returned to the main road towards Llanelli town centre, officers moved to box the vehicle in. The pursuit quickly came to an end and Williams was arrested for multiple offences.

A drug wipe showed that Williams was under the influence of cocaine. A further blood specimen was taken in custody, before he was charged and remanded.

He appeared in Llanelli Magistrates Court on Tuesday 10th March. He was found guilty of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Williams was handed a 34-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for 34 months, followed by an extended re-test. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and pay £85 in court costs and a £187 surcharge.

Crime

Man jailed for romance fraud after conning three women out of nearly £50,000

Published

3 days ago

March 12, 2026

Court Reporter

A CARDIFF man who used fake identities on dating sites to defraud three women of almost £50,000 has been jailed.

Rodney Roberts, aged 40, of Trowbridge, Cardiff, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to five years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

Officers from the Proactive Economic Crime Team at the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), working with South Wales Police, found that Roberts defrauded three victims of a combined £49,580 between 2021 and 2024. He contacted the women through online dating and social media platforms while using the false name “Paul Smith”.

Roberts first contacted a victim in February 2021. He initially claimed to be an American from California working in the UK as an attorney and financier. He later told the victim this was merely a cover story and that he was in fact an intelligence agent. Roberts claimed that because of his work he did not have direct control of his finances and asked the victim for financial help.

During the relationship he persuaded the woman to invest money in a fictitious investment company. He also assisted her in selling her home so she could invest more money into the scheme and encouraged her to open a bank account in her name for him to use. Unknown to the victim, Roberts also opened a cryptocurrency account in her name.

Roberts contacted a second victim in October 2022. Again he encouraged her to invest in what he claimed was a lucrative opportunity promising high returns. He showed her screenshots which appeared to show the investment growing in value, but these images were fabricated. Throughout the relationship Roberts repeatedly gave excuses for why he was unable to repay the money.

He contacted a third victim in March 2024, this time claiming to be an American television producer working for the BBC on a two-year visa. Roberts told the victim he was struggling to access his American bank accounts and asked for money to help him put down a deposit on a flat. As before, he used fake screenshots of accounts to convince her the investment was genuine, before providing excuses as to why the borrowed money could not be returned.

The third victim eventually became suspicious and carried out online searches, which led her to two historic news reports detailing previous fraud offences committed by Roberts under the alias Paul Smith. She then contacted South Wales Police.

Detective Constable Amanda Davies, of Tarian ROCU, said romance fraud was a growing and highly damaging crime.

“Offenders deliberately exploit trust and vulnerability,” she said. “Victims are often left with not only significant financial losses but also psychological distress and embarrassment, which can prevent them from reporting the offence.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down today and hope it sends a message to others who would behave in such an abhorrent way for financial gain.

“I would also like to recognise the courage shown by the victims in helping us pursue a conviction and bring Roberts to justice.”

DC Davies urged anyone forming relationships online to remain cautious.

“Common warning signs include requests for money, reluctance to meet in person or by video call, or pressure to keep a relationship secret. Another warning sign is ‘love bombing’, where a new or prospective partner overwhelms someone with excessive attention, affection or grand gestures early in the relationship.

“Fraudsters are skilled at creating narratives that sound believable. If something feels too good to be true, trust your instincts and speak to friends or family.

“If you believe you may have been a victim of romance fraud, report it to Action Fraud.”

She added that Tarian ROCU would continue to pursue fraudsters and bring them before the courts.