Wendy Crompton's son William and his girlfriend Fiona were killed
in an horrendous attack by another young man when William was just
18 years old. Wendy's experiences of what followed are set out in
this book which tells how, as a secondary victim of crime, she was
treated in ways that ranged from unthinking insensitivity to
downright prejudice and lack of respect. This and being kept out of
'the loop' left her anxious, stressed, mistrusting and suspicious
of people. This extended to the actions of certain police officers,
paramedics and doctors, her 'supporter' from Victim Support (who
took too much for granted and at one point went off to watch 'a
more interesting case' in the court next door), the coroner's
officer who prevented her husband from kissing William goodbye, the
detective who implied that her son was better off dead rather than
alive and the funeral director who told her 'You can't afford
flowers'. The plight of Wendy Crompton and other secondary victims
who have suffered comparable torment was the subject of a feature
in the Daily Mirror on 4 December 2006 and Justice For William was
eagerly awaited by a media critical of Government withdrawal of
financial support for 'lifeline' conferences between people
affected by some of the worst crimes in Britain, the critical
importance of which is emphasised in the book. Justice For William
is a hard-hitting, challenging and at times raw account: a
cautionary tale enhanced by new author Helen P Simpson's vivid
writing. Helen met Wendy through Helen's work with the Reducing
Burglary Initiative in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire after her
curiosity was aroused by the words 'NO CONTACT' on Wendy's case
file. The story of their friendship is an object lesson for anyone
coming into contact with secondary victims of homicide and other
serious offences - as are the more enlightening illustrations of
decent people who lent Wendy support. 'Looks unflinchingly at a
system that is at best thoughtless and at worst downright
disrespectful. It's essential reading for victims of crime and
those who work with them': Carol Anne Davis 'I confess that I did
not find the book comfortable reading and almost put it to one side
after the first couple of chapters. I'm glad that I continued with
it as it taught me to be even more understanding in relating to
those who suffer. Both Wendy and Helen have made a valuable
contribution to my understanding of the problems faced by the
victims of crime and those who work with them. They are living
proof of what I said earlier in the Foreword]. Suffering need not
destroy. Their book is a testimony to that fact': Terry Waite CBE
'I would recommend it to Government Ministers, Members of
Parliament, Consultant Psychiatrists, Criminologists, Senior Police
Officers, Prison Governors, Coroners, members of the legal
profession, Crown Prosecution Service, Senior Judiciary,
Magistracy, the Sentencing Advisory Council and Human Rights
protagonists': Michael Hughes, Internet Law Book Reviews, February
2007 Helen P Simpson is a community safety officer with Kirklees
Safer Communities (a partnership between Kirklees Metropolitan
Council, West Yorkshire Police Service, the National Probation
Service, Victim Support and others) and is involved in the
development and implementation of crime reduction strategies to
lessen crime, disorder and the fear of crime. She first met Wendy
Crompton, shortly after starting work with the Reducing Burglary
Initiative (part of Victim Support) based at Huddersfield Police
Station. They soon became firm friends and co-campaigners for
better treatment of victims of homicide and serious crime.
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