Victims’ bill ‘not worth paper it’s written on’ after being hijacked by Dominic Raab, watchdog says

Calls for government to withdraw parts of bill added by the former justice secretary without consultation with victims

Dominic Raab’s resignation has raised fresh questions over parts of the bill he created (AP)

A new package of laws the government claims will strengthen victims’ rights “isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”, a watchdog has said.

Claire Waxman, the victims’ commissioner for London, said the Victims and Prisoners Bill had been “hijacked by Dominic Raab” to increase government powers while diluting its original aims.

The bill, which was unveiled three weeks before he was forced to resign as justice secretary for bullying civil servants, was originally drafted as the “Victims’ Bill” and underwent lengthy public consultation.