The Victims’ Commissioner is supported by a number of advisory boards that provide strategic advice, expert insight and lived experience perspectives.
These boards bring together representatives from across the criminal justice system, the victim support sector and, in future, victims and survivors themselves to help inform the Commissioner’s work and priorities.
Governance structure
Overview of our Governance Structure
Our governance structure ensures that the real-world experiences of victims help to directly shape national policy and criminal justice reform. Information flows from frontline experiences on the ground up to top-level government decision-makers through three clear stages:
Stage 1: Gathering insight and evidence
Everything starts with direct experience. Through the Lived Experience Board and the Sector Advisory Board, we collect frontline data, research, and personal experiences from victims, survivors, and support charities.
This ensures our work is driven by what people are actually experiencing in their lives.
Stage 2: Strategic coordination
The information gathered from the frontline moves straight to the Victims’ Commissioner Advisory Board. Here, the Victims’ Commissioner meets directly with leaders across the entire justice system – such as the police, courts, and crown prosecution.
The board evaluates system-wide issues, monitors how well agencies are meeting their duties under the Victims’ Code, and coordinates practical solutions to fix widespread problems.
Stage 3: National escalation
When strategic issues, policy gaps, or systemic failures cannot be fixed at the advisory level, they are escalated directly to the National Criminal Justice Board.
The Victims’ Commissioner uses this direct route to present formal recommendations and policy advice straight to government ministers and national criminal justice heads, pushing for legislative and system-wide change.
Stage 1: Insight and Evidence
- Lived Experience Board: Brings together victims and survivors of crime to share their direct, personal experiences.
- Sector Advisory Board: Brings together leading national charities (such as Victim Support, Refuge, and Rape Crisis) to report on frontline trends, local evidence, and service challenges.
Stage 2: Strategic Coordination
- Victims’ Commissioner Advisory Board: Led by the Victims’ Commissioner, this central board brings together key leaders from across the criminal justice system – including the police, prosecution, courts, and probation – alongside victim sector representatives.
Stage 3: National Escalation
- National Criminal Justice Board (NCJB): The top-level national body overseeing the justice system, including government ministers and senior leaders.
Terms of Reference for each board are available on their respective pages.