Legal System Failing Elderly Across UK

The Commissioner for Wales has stated that the law is failing elderly across the UK with too many of the country’s elderly suffering from abuse and neglect.

Sarah Rochira, the commissioner for Wales stated that it should be easier for people to prosecute health and social care providers. Her statements come following a report that shows that only 1% of all crimes against the elderly are reported in comparison to 19% of all other crimes across the UK.

Despite extensive investigations, some “truly horrifying cases” had not resulted in a criminal conviction. The figure comes prior to Elder Abuse Day, with the Minister of Justice stating that those who commit such crimes "deserve tough punishments".

“Clear Inequality” Regarding Crimes Against the Elderly

The Welsh Commissioner said: "As it stands, the law simply does not offer sufficient protection for older people who are the victims of substandard care, abuse or neglect, nor does it provide a suitable deterrent to those who deliver substandard care or to those who abuse or neglect older people.

"This is something that needs to change urgently."

She added: "The shockingly low prosecution and conviction rates for crimes against older people tell us that either the evidential test currently used by the CPS is not fit for purpose, that there is a lack of willingness to prosecute for crimes against older people, or that the law itself is not sufficient.

"A person's age cannot be allowed to be a defining factor in whether or not they have the support and protection of the justice system and the clear inequality that currently exists within this system must be addressed as a matter of priority."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Those who abuse vulnerable or elderly people deserve tough punishments. Sentencing guidelines used by the courts say that the vulnerability of the victim should be taken into account.

"We await the letter from the Older People's Commissioner for Wales and her findings from the exploratory work in the summer.

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