Victims' Commissioner
Claire Waxman brings a wealth of personal insight and expertise to the role, having been the victim of a sustained stalking campaign for 20 years during which time she founded a campaign group which successfully fought for improved legislation and support for victims.
In her role as Victims' Commissioner, Claire Waxman aims to overhaul the Criminal Justice Service (CJS) to enable victims to access a timely, effective, transparent and inclusive justice journey, whether they choose to report the offence all the way through to post sentence. Claire’s mantra is that all victims of crime, no matter their status or experience, should be able to engage with a service designed to help them cope and recover.
Claire works alongside victims, amplifying their voice and promoting their interests throughout the CJS journey with agencies from police to parole board, to ensure the victim's voice is heard and lessons learned from their experiences are used to inform and shape legislation, practices, policies, services and provision.
What Claire is working on
Since her appointment in 2017, Claire has undertaken an ambitious programme of research, engagement, and advocacy, including:
- chairing the London Victims Board, comprising of justice agencies and statutory partners. The Board supports the delivery of commitments set out in the Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan and provides the opportunity for the victims’ voice to be at the centre of decision making.
- forming and co-chairing the Victims Reference Group, for ongoing engagement with victim support organisations to inform the development of policy, change in practice, and the work of the Victims Board and London Policing Board. If you are an organisation who wishes to be considered to join, please email us.
- holding the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and senior leadership team to account, through ensuring that victims are kept at the heart of all discussions through her role on the new London Policing Board.
- convening three London Victims’ Summits, bringing together national and international senior leaders from all justice agencies, voluntary and community groups, local councils, and victims of crime, to galvanise a partnership effort to improve victims’ experiences of navigating the justice system and support options post incident.
- advocating for an independent Victim Care Hub model in London, which would act as a navigator in a victim’s justice journey, building a team of people around that victim to ensure they are well informed and supported. Claire has also visited Quebec, Canada to learn from their good practice in this area, which she has shared with Government and justice partners.
- hosting a number of roundtables, including for male victims, Black victims, and victims of violence against women and girls, to hear directly from victims and survivors about their experiences in accessing support and navigating the criminal justice system and family justice system, with a view to develop policy proposals. These roundtables have been attended by senior leaders within the Metropolitan Police, and directly influenced the Mayor’s VAWG strategy, Casey Review, legislative and policy changes.
- Listening to victims and families and lobbying for key changes to Parliamentary Bills. Claire has worked closely with central Government, Members of Parliament, and Peers, to amplify and gain support for her calls including stalking legislation, better safeguards for victims’ personal data, ensuring offenders must attend sentencings or face consequences, better access to sentencing remarks for victims and bereaved families, and improved rights and entitlements for victims.
- conducting two Rape Reviews and making a number of impactful recommendations, which led to the development of Operation Soteria, a nation-wide programme aiming to use evidence and new insights to enable forces to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences. Claire is also now looking at how the learning from Op Soteria can be embedded and engaged with judiciary and courts.
- responding to the Crown Court backlogs, working closely with Government departments, HMCTS, the judiciary, CPS, Criminal Bar Association, and victims’ organisations to address the backlog and ensure victims are supported.
- working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service, to influence and help improve their response to victims, and supporting them as they work to reform their victim care programmes in order to meet the recommendations made in the Casey Review.
- working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and Ministry of Justice to develop their key victim policies, and providing insight for their staff into the victim experience and their role in supporting victims
- improving the awareness and use of Victim Personal Statements, to ensure victims and bereaved families are given the opportunity to explain, in their own words, the impact that a crime has had upon them and their families, and to ensure these accounts are taken into consideration during charging and sentencing decisions by all criminal justice agencies.
You can follow Claire's work on X/Twitter: @LDNVictimsComm
Media enquiries
For any media requests relating to the Victims' Commissioner and her work, please email [email protected]
The London Rape Review 2021
In December 2021, new research was published providing an in-depth review exploring issues facing those who report rape and insight into requests for phones and digital material.
The review was conducted by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and looked at 450 allegations of rape made across London, alongside consultation from Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) – who offer support and advocacy to rape victims – and a survey of rape victims in London.
Alongside the review, Claire has published her reflections and recommendations arising from the new findings. Claire has called for increased support for all rape victims right from the very start of reporting and the onset of an investigation; major improvements to the police process of requesting, searching and returning a victim’s mobile phone; and for Police and CPS to urgently embed an ‘offender-centric’ approach and tackle the rape myths and victims blaming that, sadly, remain endemic.
The London Rape Review 2021 - MOPAC research
The London Rape Review 2021 - Reflections and Recommendations from the Victims' Commissioner
The London Rape Review 2019
In July 2019, the London Rape Review, conducted by MOPAC and the University of West London was published. The report looks at 501 allegations of rape reported in London in April 2016, providing the clearest picture to date of reported rape in the capital and the reasons why so few cases result in conviction.
Alongside this research, Claire published her reflections and recommendations from the findings, calling for a drastic overhaul to the way rape victims are treated in the criminal justice process. Claire calls on criminal justice partners to drastically improve the treatment and support that rape victims receive across the board, to ensure they have better access to fairer justice and support and are not forced to choose between rights to privacy or access to much needed therapy in lieu of justice.
The London Rape Review - MOPAC/UWL Research
The London Rape Review - Reflections and Recommendations
Review of Compliance with the Victims' Code of Practice
In 2017, Claire set out her intention to conduct a comprehensive review across all London’s criminal justice agencies to determine compliance with the Victims Code of Practice. The Code sets out the minimum standards of service a victim of crime can expect from all Criminal Justice agencies such as police and CPS.
Her Review, the result of consultation with thousands of victims, hundreds of hours of interviews and a series of in-depth focus groups with practitioners, was published in March 2019.
MOPAC has subsequently responded to the report and its recommendations.
Claire has responded to a number of key Government consultations in her role as London’s Victims’ Commissioner, many of which have seen the inclusion of key policy changes which she has campaigned for. These consultations include:
The Victims’ Code of Practice (VCoP)
The Victims’ Code of Practice applies to all criminal justice agencies, and sets out what each agency must do for victims and the timeframe in which they must do it. The Code provides victims with a number of key rights, and in 2020 the Government drastically revised and updated this Code. Read Claire’s response to this consultation.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS)
The CICS allows victims of violent crime to apply for compensation, aiming to recognise the harm experienced by victims, including physical and sexual assault as well as domestic terrorist attacks. In 2020, the Government undertook a review into the scheme (the first since 2012) and suggested a number of key changes. Read Claire's response to this consultation.
Attorney General’s guidelines on disclosure
These guidelines are issued by the Attorney General for investigators, prosecutors and defence practitioners on the application of the disclosure regime contained in the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). The disclosure process is incredibly important, especially in cases where victims personal devices are taken as part of the investigation. Read Claire’s response to this consultation.
The CPS’ Pre-Trial Therapy
The CPS is conducting a public consultation on the draft guidance on pre-trial therapy which replaces and combines earlier guidance the “Provision of Therapy for Child Witnesses Prior to a Criminal Trial” and the “Provision of Therapy for Vulnerable or Intimidated Adult Witnesses prior to a Criminal Trial”, 2002. This guidance relates to key issues for victims, including how and when they can access therapeutic services while there is an ongoing investigation, or ahead of a trial date. Read Claire’s response to this consultation.
The Independent Press Standards Organisation
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK. They are currently reviewing the Editor’s Code of Practice, which sets out the rules that newspapers and magazines regulated by IPSO have agreed to follow. Read Claire’s response to this consultation.
Bail, Sentencing & Release Policy (parole consultation)
In October 2020 the Government launched a root-and-branch review of the parole system in England and Wales to help improve public trust and victim confidence. Read Claire's response to this review.
Justice Committee - S.28 Pre-Recorded Evidence
Claire's submission to the Justice Committee’s inquiry into the use of pre-recorded cross-examination (Section 28).
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
The Review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme first took place in 2020, with an additional consultation opened following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Read Claire's response.
Evidence in Sexual Offences Proceedings
Claire's response to the Law Commission's 2023 consultation on Evidence in Sexual Offences Proceedings.
Consultation on Alienating Behaviours
The Family Justice Council held a consultation on its draft guidance on Alienating Behaviours in 2023. Read Claire's response.
HMCPSI 2024-25 Inspection Programme
Claire's letter to HM Chief Inspector of the CPS giving her views on the Inspectorate's programme for 2024-25.
Law Commission - Criminal Appeals
Claire submitted a joint response to the 2023 Law Commission consultation on Criminal Appeals with Tracey Hanson, founder and CEO of the Josh Hanson Charitable Trust.
Women & Equalities Committee - The Escalation of Violence Against Women and Girls
In November 2023, Claire appeared at the Women & Equalities Committee as part of their Inquiry into the Escalation of Violence Against Women and Girls. Here is her follow-up submission.
Murder Sentencing Consultation
Read Claire's submission to the 2024 Ministry of Justice consultation on murder sentencing.
Open Justice: The Way Forward
Claire's letter to the Ministry of Justice in response to their 2023 Open Justice consultation.
Victim Care Hubs - Blueprint
- This paper sets out the key principles, benefits, and details of a Victim Care Hub in London.
Rape and the Criminal Justice System: Looking Forward
- Rape has been one of the most underreported and poorly understood crimes in our criminal justice system. Whilst strides have been made to better understand and address the failures facing rape survivors, they still routinely experience unfair and inequitable treatment in our criminal justice system. This paper summarises the London Victims’ Commissioner’s (LVC) work to reform the criminal justice response to rape, the progress made so far, and the progress still needed to ensure access to justice and recovery for survivors of this life-altering crime.
Victims in London
As a victim of crime in London, there are a number of ways you can seek further information and support.
The London Victim and Witness Service (LVWS) is a support service for London residents who are affected by or witness to crime. This service brings together five key areas of support for victims and witnesses through a single integrated service:
- the service provides support to adult (18+) victims of crime
- provides specialist support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse (aged 16+)
- provides access to Restorative Justice
- delivers pre-trial and outreach support for prosecution and defence witnesses
- provides support for people affected by major crime incidents.
You can contact LVWS by calling 0808 16 89 291 or via their website.
If you have been the victim of rape or sexual abuse, you can access support through the London Survivor’s Gateway.
If you have been the victim of hate crime, support is available via ‘CATCH’, a group of charities working together to end hate crime. Support can be found on their website.
Contact the Victims' Commissioner
Get in touch with Claire by emailing: [email protected]
In an emergency – if a crime is taking place, or you or someone else is in danger, always dial 999.
If you want to report a crime and the situation is not an emergency, please contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101.
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