Lords set to vote on proposals to cut cost of court transcripts for victims

22 Apr 2024

EMBARGO: 00.01 Tuesday 23rd April

The House of Lords is today (Tuesday 23rd April) set to vote on a Liberal Democrat amendment to the Victims Bill, which if passed would enable all victims to request a transcript of sentencing remarks and judges summing up free of charge
Ahead of the vote, Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney had led 31 others including Labour’s Jess Phillips, Stella Creasy and John McDonnell in addition to Conservatives Sir Peter Bottomley and Julian Lewis in writing to the Justice Secretary in support of the proposals
Several victims, including Juliana Terlizzi, who was quoted £7,000 for a transcript of her rapist's trial, will attend the debate

Today, the House of Lords is set to vote on an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill tabled by LiberalDemocrat Peer, Baroness Brinton, which would enable all victims to request a transcript of sentencing remarks and judges summing up free of charge.

The amendment, a version of which was originally tabled by Sarah Olney MP in the House of Commons, comes after a series of cases in which victims of rape and serious sexual assault were charged thousands to access the transcript of their abusers trial.

In one such case, Juliana Terlizzi, who was drugged and raped by her then-boyfriend in 2020, was quoted a fee of over £7,000 if she wanted to access it.

Juliana, whose case was raised last week at Prime Minister’s Questions by her MP, Sarah Olney, has branded the lack of government action on the subject a ‘slap in the face’ for victims.

Shockingly, cases like this are widespread, with victims regularly being quoted up to £22,000 for transcripts of trials in which they were a part. One recent case involved a girl who was raped and sexually abused by her father, but whose family were then quoted £6,534 for the transcript of his trial.

In traumatic cases, most victims do not attend trial. Without a transcript, they therefore struggle to find out about proceedings, or why a certain verdict is reached. Further to this, victims are sometimes actively discouraged from attending trial and have in some cases been told that they will distract the jury if they attend. Requesting a transcript is therefore often recommended by therapists as part of the healing process, however many victims simply cannot afford the cost.

Last year, the UK Government agreed to a very limited one-year pilot scheme in which free copies of sentencing remarks will be made available to victims of rape and serious sexual offences, however campaigners have argued that this does not go far enough.

The Liberal Democrat amendment, tabled by Baroness Sal Brinton, would allow all crime victims to request a transcript of the court’s summing up and sentencing remarks, so long as the trial took place in a court where the proceedings are recorded. This would include all crown court cases where serious offences, including robbery, rape and murder, are tried.

Ahead of the vote, 31 cross party MPs including Labour’s Jess Phillips, Stella Creasy and John McDonnell in addition to Conservatives Sir Peter Bottomley and Julian Lewis have written to the Justice Secretary in support of the proposals in a letter coordinated by Olney.

The open letter – also signed by the Centre for Women’s Justice; Support after Murder and Manslaughter; Women’s Aid; and Refuge calls on Alex Chalk to accept the calls for change.

Liberal Democrat Peer, Baroness Brinton said:

“It is truly unthinkable that this is even something a victim would have to consider when going through a traumatic experience. Let’s be clear, justice should not come at a cost, and I am proud to be introducing this amendment which I hope can help people who feel let down by the criminal justice system.

“The countless experiences of victims who are being failed by the system show just how important this campaign is, and we are calling for the Government to back this in support of any victim who has felt ignored by the very system that is meant to support them.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney said:

“No victim or bereaved family should be forced to pay thousands to access a court transcript, and it is clear our current system is failing to address this glaring inequality.

“Justice should not have a price tag, and I am so honoured to stand side-by-side with victims like Juliana on this vitally important campaign.

“Cases like this are sadly all too common, and the Justice Secretary must hear our calls for change and accept amendments to the Victims’ Bill which will help reduce the cost of these transcripts for victims.”

Campaigner Juliana Terlizzi said:

“The continual refusal of the Government to cut the cost of court transcripts is a slap in the face for victims. ‘Sorry’ does not go far enough for people like me who are sick and tired of empty promises from a Government which, when push comes to shove, continually fails to act on our calls for action on court transcript costs.

“Justice should not have a price tag. Rather than yet more empty words, the Government must finally act to support victims and back this amendment to reduce transcript costs.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Sarah Olney, Juliana Terlizzi, Charlotte Meijer, David Challen, and Lily (anonymously), the child victim whose family were quoted over £6,500, are available for interview upon request.
Details of the amendment to the Victims’ and Prisoners’ Bill scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd can be seen here and wording here:

Clause 2

BARONESS BRINTON

Clause 2, page 2, line 36, at end insert –

“(5A) Regulations under subsection (4) must make provision for a person to be able to obtain free of charge, on request, a transcript of the court’s summing up and sentencing remarks from a trial in which –

(a) the person was a victim of a crime; and

(b) where that crime is tried in a court where the hearing is recorded.”

Member’s Explanatory Statement – This amendment will provide all victims with a right to free transcripts of the sentencing remarks and the judge’s summing up where the trial takes place in a court where the hearing is recorded.

Juliana Terlizzi’s case has previously received coverage on BBC Newsnight, LBC, The Daily Express and others, and was raised at PMQs by Olney here.
The case of the child, Lily (name change for anonymity reasons) whose family were charged over £6,500 for the transcript of the trial of her rapist first reported in The Times here.
Sarah Olney has coordinated a letter from MPs from all parties and charities including the CEOs of Refuge, Rape Crisis UK, Women’s Aid and SAMM, as well as Conservatives Sir Peter Bottomley and Julian Lewis, in addition to Labour MPs Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy to the Justice Secretary demanding the law change to cut the cost of court transcripts. A copy of the open letter including a full list of signatories can be found here.