State agencies will have to defend victims of crime under new EU legislation

IT is not before time that victims of crime in Ireland will attain legally enforceable rights.

From yesterday, under an EU directive on victim’s rights and transposed into Irish law by the Victims of Crime Bill 2015, certain state agencies will assume new responsibilities.

The Gardaí will be obliged to keep victims informed about their cases, while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will have to explain why cases are dropped, among other measures. From the moment a victim makes contact with gardaí they must be given information about victim support services and referred to those services by the gardaí if they request it.

That all sounds very worthwhile but there must be a cost downside. According to the Government’s assessment of the new measures, their implementation will not involve any additional cost.

It is difficult to imagine how this can be so. There must be increased training and administrative costs involved for the DPP office and the creaking Garda Pulse communications system is hardly up to the job of dealing with victim support, as well as law enforcement.

The intention of the directive is very worthwhile and will give a stronger voice for victims of crime. It is essential that the new measures have enough resources to ensure they work, in practice.