Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West Greg Mulholland has urged ministers to treat victims of criminal driving not as victims of an accident, but rather as victims of a crime. He has also demanded an update to the Ministry of Justice’s review of criminal driving offences and penalties, which was launched in May 2014.

Families are often told their loved one has “been in an accident”, which undermines both the seriousness of the crime and the fault of the offending driver.

Greg has also previously urged that the Ministry of Justice’s Code of Practice for Victims of Crime be amended so driving offences do constitute criminal conduct, allowing victims access to the support they deserve.

He also called on ministers to give an update on the review, into criminal driving offences and penalties, which was launched back on 6th May 2014.

Greg has long campaigned for better justice for criminal driving victims and their families. Earlier this year, he presented the Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill in Parliament and was also named Brake’s Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Year 2015.

Speaking yesterday in the House of Commons, Greg said:

“Too often the victims of criminal driving and their families are not actually treated as victims of crime, but told that they have been involved in an accident. How can that culture be changed, and will the Minister tell the House when, finally, we will get the review of sentencing for these types of offences?”

Responding, justice minister Dr Philip Lee MP said:

“I agree that victims in such situations need more protection and that the culture needs to change.”

Commenting, Greg said:

“Every incident of criminal driving must be treated seriously and to call it an ‘accident’ undermines that, as well as the fault of the offending driver. Families need to have faith in our judicial system.

“We need a change in culture that treats every criminal driving incident seriously, and I hope the minister will work to achieve this.

“We must also see an update regarding the review, into criminal driving offences and penalties, which was announced in May 2014. It has now been nearly two and a half years since it was launched, and it hasn’t reported or given any update.”