A LOCAL Parliamentary candidate is calling on the Government to pass a new Victims of Crime Bill ‘without delay’.

The bill, which would turn the current discretionary victims code into law, passed its second reading in Parliament last week.

It has been put forward by Liberal Democrat Party President Sal Brinton in a bid to ensure new statutory rights and entitlements - including the right to request a review of a decision not to prosecute - for victims of crime. Introduced into England and Wales in 2006, the code is a set of expectations for Criminal Justice agencies but is not mandatory.

The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Leeds North West, solicitor Kamran Hussain, said: “The Tories promised in 2017 that they would consult on this issue and instead they have spent two years navel-gazing over Brexit, rather than bringing forward legislation that would genuinely make a difference to people’s lives. Liberal Democrats demand better.

“For far too long the code which protects victims of crime has not been properly enforced, leaving them more vulnerable and deterring people from coming forward in the first place.

“The government must now ensure this bill passes without delay.”