Familes of murder and manslaughter victims will lobby Parliament next month to improve victims' rights.

The North of England Victims Association and Support After Murder and Manslaughter, based in Teesside, will join other organisations from across the country to petition for empowerment and transparency in the criminal justice system (CJS) on March 2nd at midday.

The mass lobby, an umbrella body called Victim's Voice, believes UK victims are treated worse than their European counterparts.

It claims in many European courts, victims are central to the criminal justice system, while UK victims are denied the same access.

Victim's Voice wants to bring the rights of victims in the British judicial system to an equivalent level. Campaigner Sandra Sullivan said: "We are simply asking for a CJS where bereaved families become empowered through interactive participation, instead of being forced to be passive observers."

The organisation said the current system was closed to families wishing to be involved or to better understand court proceedings and judgements.

Many believe murderers are given lenient sentences and preferential treatment while the victim's family is excluded.

Bereaved families currently have no locus standi as an interested party during the trial because the crime has not been committed against them, but against the crown, a spokesman said.

It said one murder victim's family had to pay £30,000 for a copy of the trial papers in order to prove to the judiciary the trial had been mis-conducted.

Robert Allis, whose brother was murdered, said: "We also seek a more transparent justice system which allows bereaved families free access to trial transcripts, privy to jury and judge's decisions and a right of appeal if bereaved families feel injustice or misconduct has occurred."

Victim's Voice is an umbrella body of 14 national victims organisations.