THE Victims Right to Review Scheme is an answer to the shock and complaint that victims and families are feeling over the issuing of police cautions to the offenders of cowardly, violent, life risking assaults such as hard punches to people who are just out enjoying themselves.

The case of punch victim Ian Morley (Bolton News January 28) is the second in Bolton in recent months where I have learned of it being resolved by a police caution. There may be more.

If Home Office rules mean police cautions are recommended for violence we must lobby our MPs if we are dissatisfied.The Victims Right to Review Scheme was brought in by the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner in 2015. The scheme is now operated by the police. The important thing to remember is to make your request for a review within three months of the crime occurring. Twelve weeks can pass quickly when a victim and a family are getting over a crime. It is not a difficult process to request a Victims Right to Review and the on-line information about the scheme is written well in plain language.

The scheme fills an important gap where the public want the decision where a person has not been charged for a crime, reviewed because they feel dissatisfied in terms of justice. Many people know charging decisions are made by the police and the prosecution authorities. One standard that applies is that the crime case and charging decision is reviewed by a police officer at least one rank higher than the original decision maker who has not themselves had any dealings with the case before.

There are six outcomes that can occur after the crime case has been reviewed by a senior officer. One is that the original decision is overturned and proceedings may continue towards the arrest and charging of suspects in the case. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the prosecuting authority of crime cases in England and Wales. There is also a CPS Victims Right to Review Scheme where it is the CPS who has made a decision not to prosecute. CPS decisions to prosecute are based on the robustness of evidence and if prosecution is in the public interest. This information must be shared more often; the people of Bolton have rights in the justice system.

Councillor Sue Haworth

Bolton MBC