Abuse victims giving up on justice after Labour Budget’s ‘ludicrous’ cuts to support charities, warns Baroness Newlove
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VICTIM support services are facing “ludicrous” cuts due to Labour’s tax-raising Budget, a Government adviser has warned. Baroness Helen Newlove said groups helping those affected by serious crime to navigate the court system face regional closures and redundancies.
![[Baroness Helen Newlove said groups helping those affected by serious crime to navigate the court system face regional closures and redundancies]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/victims-commissioner-baroness-helen-newlove-958338076.jpg?strip=all&w=502)
And she fears some people may even give up on seeking justice if they do not have the charities’ specialist backing to hand. Baroness Newlove, who is the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, has written to ministers calling for such bodies to be exempt from the controversial Employer National Insurance hike. They also face funding cuts.
![[Baroness Newlove said it would have been 'common sense' to omit victims’ services from Rachel Reeves' National Insurance Contributions increase]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/chancellor-exchequer-rachel-reeves-poses-945114365.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
She told The Sun on Sunday: “You wouldn’t run a business like this. If you don’t invest, your business falls down. “It’s just ludicrous. It does feel very much like it’s breadcrumbs on the table again for victims.”. Baroness Newlove said it would have been “common sense” to omit victims’ services from the NIC increase, adding: “The public sector was being protected yet these were not. These are charities.
![[Baroness Newlove’s husband Garry was kicked to death in front of their daughters when he confronted a gang of youths who vandalised her car in August 2007]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2010-baroness-newlove-warrington-chairwoman-593592.jpg?strip=all&w=812)
“These are very emotional sectors that feel like they are being thrown to the wolves. Will this encourage any victim to come forward?”. Rape Crisis, Victim Support and Women’s Aid have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warning that the NICs hike is putting services “in danger” and denying a lifeline to thousands.
![[Studies show victims with advocacy backing are 49 per cent less likely to withdraw from the criminal justice process]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/stop-sexual-harassment-violence-women-961457163.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
