How many victims are too many?

Every day, victims of domestic abuse, stalking and other violent crimes are trying to rebuild their lives. For many, the abuse does not end when the relationship ends—or even when the offender is sent to prison. Instead, victims continue living with fear, harassment, intimidation and the lasting effects of trauma for years, sometimes for the rest of their lives.

This campaign was inspired by my own experience as a survivor, but it has quickly become about something much bigger.

Survivors from across the United Kingdom have trusted me with their stories, and one message has become impossible to ignore:

For many victims, the sentence ends—but the fear does not.

Time and again, survivors describe living in fear long after criminal proceedings have finished. Many have moved home multiple times, changed jobs, developed PTSD or Complex PTSD, and continue looking over their shoulder because they know the person who abused them will eventually be released.

Through these stories, several concerns are raised repeatedly:

• Victims living in fear long after criminal proceedings have ended.

• Repeat violent offenders being released while victims continue to face ongoing safety concerns.

• Stalking, harassment and coercive control continuing long after relationships have ended.

• The use of contraband mobile phones in prisons to contact, intimidate or manipulate victims and witnesses.

• Vulnerable people being groomed, exploited and coerced into abusive relationships or criminal lifestyles.

• The devastating and often lifelong impact repeated abuse has on victims’ mental health, families and ability to rebuild their lives.

• Repeat offenders repeatedly breaching licence conditions, restraining orders and protective orders, leaving victims with little confidence that these measures alone will keep them safe.

This petition is not about removing hope of rehabilitation or ignoring the rights of offenders. Rehabilitation should always remain an important part of our justice system where there is genuine evidence of change.

However, where there is a clear history of repeat violent offending, repeated breaches of licence conditions or court orders, continued offending whilst in custody, or ongoing investigations involving previous victims, public protection and victim safety must come first.

Beyond the Sentence UK’s Three Calls for Change

1. Protect Victims First

Victim safety must become the overriding consideration when deciding whether repeat violent offenders should be eligible for early release. Where there is evidence of ongoing risk, repeated offending or continued abuse, victims deserve to know that their safety comes first.

2. Stop Rewarding Repeat Offending

Early release decisions should give far greater weight to:

• Ongoing police investigations involving previous victims.

• Repeated breaches of licence conditions, restraining orders and other protective orders.

• Continued offending whilst in custody, including the use of contraband mobile phones to threaten, intimidate or manipulate victims and witnesses.

• Clear patterns of repeat violent offending that demonstrate an ongoing risk to the public.

3. Justice Beyond the Sentence

Victims deserve protection long after a conviction has been secured. We are calling for:

• Better communication with victims before release decisions are made.

• Stronger, evidence-based risk assessments for repeat domestic abuse perpetrators, serial stalkers and repeat violent offenders.

• Greater consideration of victims’ voices when decisions affecting their safety are made.

• Improved trauma-informed training across the criminal justice system so victims are understood, supported and protected throughout the process.

This campaign is not about punishment for punishment’s sake.

It is about asking whether the current system is doing enough to protect victims and the wider public when there is clear evidence of repeated violent offending and ongoing risk.

Every survivor deserves the opportunity to recover without living in constant fear.

Every victim deserves to know that their safety matters just as much as an offender’s opportunity for release.

Justice should not end with a conviction.

It is time to move Beyond the Sentence and ask a simple question:

When does a victim’s right to feel safe become as important as an offender’s opportunity for release?

💜 Please read the campaign updates to hear directly from the brave survivors who have shared their stories. Their voices are the reason this campaign exists, and together we can push for meaningful change. 💜