Victims of stalking and abuse still face systemic problems

Campaigners warn that changes to sentencing fail to tackle the real issues, writes Maya Oppenheim

Coercive and controlling behaviour, harassment, taking, disseminating and publishing indecent images of children, are among the new offences to be included in the scheme (PA)

Victims of domestic abuse, stalking and child sexual abuse will be allowed to challenge sentences handed to their perpetrators which they deem not to be sufficiently stringent under new laws.

But the 14 offences added to the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme – including coercive and controlling behaviour and harassment – still fail to tackle systemic problems in the criminal justice system, according to frontline service providers.

Rebecca Hitchen, of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said: “The broadening out of this scheme will, on the face of it, allow more victims to challenge unduly lenient sentencing. However there are not enough cases reaching trial, let alone sentencing, so in reality it is unlikely to help that many more women who have experienced abuse.