Speaking during a working seminar on victims of crime organised by the Criminal Justice Bureau and held at Paola local council offices, Dr Borg spoke about reforms that are needed in the Maltese criminal justice sphere. He said victims are not the forgotten participants of the criminal justice system in Malta. On the contrary, the system is there for them.

He explained that a victim passes through four distinct phases. First, the victim is traumatised and shocked and cannot understand what has happened. Then the victim starts to realise and accept that he or she has been a victim of a crime. The next phase is the crucial one in which the victim decides to take action and speak to someone about what he or she has gone through. In the last phase, the victim is recognised as a victim of a crime and it given the attention and respect he or she deserves.

He said the police have a crucial role when dealing with victims, adding that this was why the victims’ support unit within the police force had been set up.

Dr Borg said the court should, through a probation order or a suspended sentence judgement, order criminals to pay the victims compensation for what they have suffered and the victim should also express his or her opinion regarding the best sentence for the accused.