The sister of a murdered man has called for a change in the law to ensure victims and their families are spared the ordeal of encountering perpetrators in their local communities.
Airdrie resident Tony Blair was murdered in 2006 after his girlfriend’s ex, John McAvoy, set fire to his family home.
The family’s ordeal was compounded when, prior to the end of his sentence, McAvoy started working in a local hotel without them being notified.
Now Leslie Jones, the sister of Tony Blair, is backing Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene’s Victims Bill which aims to reform the Victims Notification Scheme and ensure that victims do not have to come into contact with perpetrators.
Leslie met with Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice Jamie Greene MSP to discuss her experiences with Scotland’s justice system. She also appeared on STV News last night detailing her family’s ordeal.
The consultation on the bill closes on 1 June 2022 and the Scottish Conservatives are urging people to fill it out so that victims don’t experience what Leslie did.
Commenting after the meeting, Leslie Jones said: “My own personal experience has shown me that victims are currently an afterthought in the justice process.
“This is wrong and I have been let down time and again. Victims are constantly being left in the dark.
“Jamie Greene’s Victims Law truly has the potential to improve things for victims, giving them a voice at every stage in the justice process and empowering them to prevent perpetrators from tormenting their victims once they’ve been released.
“Victims must always come first, no ifs, no buts – and this Bill will help achieve that.”
Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Jamie Greene MSP, said: “Leslie’s story is heart-breaking and her efforts to improve the justice process for other victims and their families are extremely admirable.
“It’s clear she has been let down by the process, not being informed of important changes to the case, or having enough of a say, if any, at key stages.
“All too often, the SNP’s soft-touch attitude has put the interests of criminals first, rather than the victims of crime. That has got to change.
“Leslie is one of thousands who have been failed by the justice process, yet she is making a stand for all of them. That is why I am urging people to complete the consultation so we can put victims at the heart of Scotland’s justice system.”
Notes
- The Victims Bill consultation can be filled out here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/VictimsCriminalJusticeandFAIs/
- The STV News story is here: link
- Attached photo features Jamie Greene and Leslie Jones
- The Victims Bill has seven key components:
-Abolishing the controversial Not Proven verdict
-Implementing Michelle’s Law to give victims a voice when criminals are considered for release
-Implementing Suzanne’s Law to prevent the release of killers if they refuse to say where a victim’s body is buried
-Giving all victims the opportunity to make statements in court
-Ensuring victims are always notified if no further action is taken on their case
-Reforming the Victim Notification Scheme
-Introducing statutory timescales for Fatal Accident Inquiries