Profile - Louise Casey

This week's Profile is of Louise Casey, the first Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses (for England and Wales). She was appointed in March this year by the Labour government and is continuing in her new role under the coalition government. Her job is to champion the rights of the victims of crime. In a report published last month, Louise Casey argued that victims and witnesses are the "poor relation" in the criminal justice system. During her inaugural speech, Louise Casey argued that victims and witnesses enter a criminal justice system that is complicated, haphazard and often frightening, and where they have no guarantee of help. During her career as a civil servant Louise Casey has frequently been outspoken about the rights of victims. She first came to prominence as "Homelessness Czar" and followed that with "Asbo Czar" and "Respect Czar." Her sometimes forthright comments have not always been welcomed and, on occasion, have landed her in hot water. But her friends and many of those who have worked with her display great loyalty towards her and describe her as a "breath of fresh air" in Whitehall.