UPDATE: I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENT – SURVIVORS DESERVE TO BE HEARD!

Today, I have taken another important step in my campaign against the early release of convicted abusers.

I have formally written to the Secretary of State for Justice requesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss the dangers of early release, concerns about electronic tagging and the devastating impact these decisions can have on survivors.

This is deeply personal to me.

In 2022, my childhood abuser was sentenced to four years in prison after I spent decades finding the courage to speak out. Yet in September 2024, he was released after serving approximately 19 months.

I know what it feels like to fight for justice, only to be left feeling frightened and let down by the very system that is supposed to protect us.

And I know I am not alone.

The murder of mother-of-two Dickiesha Nurse by Robert Sabat, shortly after his early release from prison, is a devastating reminder of why the risks surrounding release decisions must be taken seriously.

How many more survivors must live in fear before their voices are heard?

I understand that prisons are overcrowded, but why should survivors be expected to carry the consequences?

I have asked the Government to look again at the safeguards surrounding early release, the effectiveness of electronic tagging and the protection given to victims.

I have also asked for something very simple: the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting.

I want the opportunity to sit across from those making these decisions and explain what early release means to people who have already suffered so much.

This petition is not just about my experience. It is about every woman, child and survivor who deserves to feel safe.

I will continue speaking out and asking for change.

Please keep signing and sharing this petition. Every signature strengthens our call for the Government to listen.

Survivors have already been through enough. Their safety must never be an afterthought.

Thank you to everyone standing with me. ❤️

Miriam Lake
Survivor, Women’s Aid Campaigner and BBC Make a Difference Award Winner