Vince Cable

The Twickenham based Victims of Crime Trust launched its national phone petition in the Russell Hotel on Monday in the presence of families of 30 murder victims including Sara Payne, mother of Sarah Payne, Denise Fergus, mother of Jamie Bulger, and Richard Taylor, father of Damiola Taylor. The founders of the Trust, Norman Brennan and Clive Elliott, were also present.

Vincent Cable, MP, who attended and supported the launch and said afterwards: "what was highlighted was the almost pathetic level of support given to victims of crime. There is an admirable national body, Victim Support, but it is seriously underfunded. Very often the police are overstretched and cannot give the sustained and intensive support needed by victims of serious crime. Social services departments often treat victims of crime as low priority. they get no special provision in term of legal aid. Overall, these people - who could be you or me tomorrow - are being very badly let down by the criminal justice system and society in general ".