15 July 2008
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, said the Crown Prosecution Service was making clear to the public that it takes crime against older people seriously as a policy published today sets out how it handles these cases.
Sir Ken said: "Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure and to live free from the fear of crime. We know that feeling and being unsafe have significant negative impacts on older people's health and sense of well-being. Research shows that crimes against older people are prevalent yet they are under-reported to the police.
"Our policy, Prosecuting Crimes Against Older People, makes clear to older people, their families, communities and the general public that they can be confident that the CPS understands the serious implications of crimes against older people.
"The CPS recognises its role in protecting older people's human rights by prosecuting offenders effectively and helping older people give the best possible evidence in court.
"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 and this could lead to an increase in sentence."
The policy has been produced through the work of a project group chaired by CPS London's Chief Crown Prosecutor, Dru Sharpling, and involving older people and representatives of key organisations working and researching in the field of age equality and older people's experiences. A consultation exercise earlier this year asked the general public for their views.
The issues addressed in the policy include how the CPS will support older people as victims and witnesses of crime; what special measures - such as screens in court or video links to their home - are available; what happens if the victim withdraws support or no longer wishes to give evidence and continuing a case where that has happened.
The policy also summarises some of the wide and complex range of crimes which older people may experience. These include:
- 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 not initially related to their age but may later become so if someone exploits the situation on discovering that they are an older person;
- crimes against older people which are in part or wholly motivated by hostility based on age.
SOURCE: CPSdotGov
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