I'm proud we've changed the law for victims and bereaved families facing unimaginable grief
I want to dedicate this week’s column to Katie Brett, who is one of my constituents, writes Lorraine Beavers MP.
Katie Brett’s campaign for “Sasha’s Law” has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Last week’s announcement that the Government will implement the reform she has fought so hard for is, first and foremost, a tribute to her determination, courage and refusal to let her sister Sasha’s memory be forgotten.
Katie has led this campaign with immense dignity after the devastating loss of her sister Sasha Marsden, who was murdered in Blackpool in 2013 at just 16 years old. The reform is known as “Sasha’s Law” because Katie has campaigned in her sister’s name to change a system that failed her family when they tried to challenge what they believed was an unduly lenient sentence.
Katie has spoken out not only for her own family but for countless others who have found themselves shut out by a justice system that too often fails victims. Her persistence has forced the country and the government to confront the fact that bereaved families should not miss their chance to challenge an unduly lenient sentence because they were not told in time, or because the window for doing so was impossibly short.
As Katie’s MP, I have felt a duty to make sure her voice was heard in Parliament, and I have consistently raised this issue with ministers and in the House of Commons. I have been proud to stand alongside her, press the case for reform, and support her calls for change at every opportunity. But this achievement belongs to Katie. She has been the driving force behind it from the very beginning. Her voice, her campaigning and her resilience are what brought us to this point.
The Government’s decision means two vital changes will now happen. Victims and bereaved families will have up to six months, rather than just 28 days, to seek a review of an unduly lenient sentence. Crucially, there will also be a legal duty to make sure they are told that this right exists. Those changes will make a real difference, and they have come about because Katie refused to accept that what happened to her family should happen to anyone else. The Government’s announcement has made explicit that the changes were inspired by Katie’s campaign.
“Sasha’s Law” will stand as an important legacy for Sasha, but it is also a tribute to Katie’s bravery. She has shown what one determined person can achieve, even in the face of unimaginable grief. She has been an inspiration to me, and I am so proud to have played a small part in bringing this change about.
As a final note, I know many residents are deeply worried about the council’s announcement regarding the Fleetwood-Knott End ferry. As I write this on Monday afternoon, I want residents to be assured that I am doing everything I can, along with our neighbouring MP Cat Smith, to get this situation resolved. Please keep an eye out on my social media for updates.