Appointment process for next Victims’ Commissioner now open
The process to appoint the next Victims’ Commissioner is now live. This follows a previously announced extension of Baroness Newlove’s term, now set to come to an end on 31 December, 2025.
Closing on 4 February, 2025, this is a public appointment — conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments, with the aim to conclude within three months of the application deadline.
For nearly 15 years, the role of the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has been in place to champion victims’ rights, promote their interests and hold criminal justice agencies to account.
Dedicated to improving how the criminal justice system works for victims and witnesses, the Victims’ Commissioner uses their independent voice to raise awareness of the common issues faced by victims and witnesses and encourage good practice.
The duties and powers of the Victims’ Commissioner is set out in section 49 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.
The Victims’ Commissioner must:
- promote the interests of victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour;
- encourage good practice in their treatment; and
- keep under review the operation of the Victims’ Code.
The next Victims’ Commissioner will join at a critical time. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduced important provisions, strengthening the Victims’ Commissioners’ role by placing duties on certain bodies to cooperate with them and respond to recommendations.
The new Victims’ Commissioner will be an important part of ensuring that those measures deliver, improving to the experience of all victims across England and Wales.