Baroness Newlove: Victims commissioner warns 'Britain is broken'

Baroness Helen Newlove previously served as victims' commissioner between 2013 and 2019

The victims commissioner has called for "respect and dignity from our criminal justice system" after declaring "Britain is broken".

Baroness Helen Newlove, whose husband Garry was killed in a 2007 gang attack in Warrington, Cheshire, said the country needed to go "back to basics".

Her comments came after she was reappointed for a one-year term in the role in October.

She said she would always advocate for people's legal rights.

"Constantly now we're hearing about knife crime. Are we becoming so desensitised?" she said.

"Anti-social behaviour used to be just the young people in gangs, now we've got a lot of the older generation who are causing problems.

"I do think Britain's broken but I don't think it's just a government issue. I think it's a society problem.

"People are very angry. People treat people terribly so I think we have to go back to basics."

Research for BBC Radio 5 Live showed 30% of people who have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood said they felt unsafe walking alone where they live.

• Policing the UK: A BBC Radio 5 Live special

Mr Newlove, a 47-year-old salesman, was killed in front of his daughter when he confronted a gang of youths who had vandalised his wife's car in August 2007.

Baroness Newlove, who previously served as commissioner between 2013 and 2019, has been dedicated to providing a voice to victims since his death.

The position promotes the interests of victims and witnesses and regularly reviews the code of practice, which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.

Garry Newlove was murdered in 2007 outside his home

"I was given this opportunity to help people, and I'll carry on doing that," she said.

"I'll challenge people and if I can help and educate young people and do that if they can just take one person, and it helps, I'll carry on doing that."

"In the drama about the Post Office there's a line from Will Mellor the actor and he said 'I believe in British justice'," she said.

"We all believe there's a system there to protect us and when you go in it and you find out it doesn't, it's a very lonely pathway."

Baroness Newlove was appointed temporarily to the role almost one year on from the resignation of Dame Vera Baird in September 2022.

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