Dominic Raab ‘deceptively and deliberately’ undermined me as victims’ tsar, says Vera Baird

Outgoing commissioner says justice secretary expected her to be his puppet on a string'

The role of a victims' champion in England and Wales has been deceptively and deliberately" undermined, leaving people affected by crime voiceless in the corridors of power, the outgoing victims' commissioner has said.

In her first major interview since stepping down from the role in September, Dame Vera Baird accused the justice secretary, Dominic Raab, of seeking a puppet on a string" while he undermined the rights of victims with his proposed bill of rights.