Help and Care supports crackdown on crime against older people
CPS seeks views on prosecuting crimes against older people
7th November 2007
The Crown Prosecution Service today launched a public consultation on prosecuting crimes against older people, seeking views on how it deals with crimes against them and how it supports those who are victims and witnesses.
Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "We want older people, their families, communities and the general public to be confident that the CPS understands the serious implications of crimes against older people.
"We will work with police, health and social care agencies, voluntary and community organisations, not only to gather evidence but to support older people during a case. If there is any evidence that there is an aggravating element to an offence based on a victim's age, we will draw it to the attention of the court.
"Safety and security, and the right to live free from the fear of crime, arising from mistreatment or abuse, are fundamental rights and go to the core of older people's sense of well being. Feeling and being unsafe, or 'at risk', has a significant negative impact on older people's health and sense of wellbeing and can leave them isolated and unable to participate socially and economically in their communities."
The draft policy has been produced through the work of a project group chaired by CPS London's Chief Crown Prosecutor, Dru Sharpling, and involving representatives of key organisations working and researching in the field of age equality and older people's experiences.
The type of crimes on which the CPS will focus includes:
- abuse or neglect where there is an expectation of trust, whether by family members, friends or paid workers, or where the older person is living either temporarily or permanently in an institution;
- crimes which are specifically targeted at older people because they are perceived as vulnerable or potentially easy to steal from, such as muggings, doorstep theft or rogue traders;
- crimes against older people which are in part or wholly motivated by hostility based on age.
Sir Ken said: "Stopping crimes against older people and bringing perpetrators to justice should be a priority for our society and for the CPS. The CPS recognizes its role in protecting older people's rights by prosecuting offenders effectively and we invite people to respond to this consultation by giving us their views on how we can best do this."