Vera Baird DBE KC

Writer, Lecturer, Parliamentary Consultant and Co-Director of Astraea: Gender Justice

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to look at my personal website. Here you will find a range of information on the work I do and my many other interests, such as VAWG, my role as Patron of Respect and Operation Encompass to name but a few.

Vera is a member of the Fabian Society

  • Consultation on taxi licensing to protect passengers.

    ‘The current taxi licensing system is unfit for purpose and requires an urgent re-think’ says Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird, following today’s (12, February, 2019) government announcement to launch a consultation on rules to improve passenger safety. Dame Vera has repeatedly expressed concerns over the granting of taxi licences and the application…

  • Consultation shows public want investment in policing

    Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner has been consulting with local communities and the clear verdict is – nearly 90% of residents want to see more investment in policing. Residents were also asked if they would pay 31p a week more towards policing for a Band A property or 46p per week more towards policing for…

  • Welcoming the Domestic Abuse Bill.

    Vera Baird QC welcomes the domestic abuse Bill in particular banning alleged perpetrators from personally cross examining their partner in family courts Dame Vera Baird said: “When that happens the court is allowing the perpetrator to use its processes as a tool to tighten control over the victim, showing her that even the court thinks…

  • HOME SECRETARY FAILS NORTH EAST COMMUNITIES – say North East PCCs

    The three Police and Crime Commissioners for the North East have today slammed the Home Secretary for increasing council tax bills to fund policing, instead of the Government providing a fair funding settlement for the communities of Cleveland, Durham & Darlington and Northumbria. Residents across the North East of England are facing a significant increase…

  • Northumbria PCC’s Response to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons Stakeholder Survey 2018

    The annual survey invites stakeholders to give their views on all aspects of the work of HM Inspectorate of Prisons over the last 12 months. To read the PCC’s questionnaire response, please click on the following link:

  • BAIRD SLAMS CPS

    Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC responds to reports that Prosecutors have been urged to ditch “weak” rape cases to improve figures. Dame Vera Baird said “This approach is completely hostile to the principle of access to justice. The point of the CPS is to bring fair prosecutions, not to deliberately avoid…

    Read more: BAIRD SLAMS CPS
  • Labour Conference 2018 Blog.

    It was great to be at Labour Party conference in Liverpool – it’s always good to catch up with old friends, listen to debate and to see CLP delegates from across the country debating Labour Party policy and helping influence our party manifesto that may be needed sooner, rather than later. Conference once again shows…

  • Brexit needs the best deal possible, not a no deal!

    As the dark nights start to draw in, I think the Prime Minister will be having many dark days – wondering how to control her rebels over Brexit. The government are making a monumental hash up of this process, it is stumbling from crisis to crisis and as they do this they are failing to…

  • Tory “Summer of Discontent” – We need change NOW!

    The sun has certainly been blazing down – in the world of politics you could be forgiven for thinking this is Theresa May’s “Summer of Discontent” – she lost Boris from the Foreign Office, she lost David from the Brexit Office, her great plan for Brexit that she drew up at Chequers is now nigh…

  • Why MP Chope was wrong…….

    As June comes to a close, we have seen the Tories losing control through the actions of Sir Christopher Chope MP – he shouted out the word “object” which stopped the bill to make upskirting a specific sexual offence under English law. His reason for stopping the bill, was that he wasn’t aware of the…