Agency: Ministry of Justice
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 18
The Ministry of Justice undertake an assessment to determine what additional resources are required to enable victim services to support victims through the court backlog crisis, with a view to submitting a business case to HM Treasury for emergency funding.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 17
The Ministry of Justice prioritises the evaluation of the court co-ordinators pilot. If successful, these roles should be rolled out across England and Wales as soon as possible.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 16
The Lord Chancellor urgently reviews and amends the Criminal Procedure Rules and the Criminal Practice Directions, to ensure the rights and needs of victims and witnesses are given equal weight as those of defendants throughout the court process and in particular in listing practice.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 15
The Lord Chancellor must require the criminal justice inspectorates to perform a joint inspection every 5 years to look at the experiences, needs and rights of victims across the system including consideration of victim demographics, communication, and accessibility.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 13
The Ministry of Justice reinstate the Courts’ Inspectorate
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 11
The Ministry of Justice carry out a review of its financial loss allowances policy, to ensure that reimbursement rates are brought up to date.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 10
The Ministry of Justice extends the deadline for applications for criminal injuries compensation where criminal proceedings are ongoing, to 12 months after the conclusion of the criminal case.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 7
The Ministry of Justice commence the provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act (2024) relating to victim information requests at the earliest opportunity, to ensure the new threshold for seeking notes of therapy is implemented. The Ministry of Justice should seek to expedite the statutory guidance and update any other relevant guidance to make clear that agencies should not discourage victims from seeking therapy.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 5
The Ministry of Justice must update the Victims’ Code to make clear that needs assessments should be ongoing during the court process. The effect of delay on the individual victim must also form part of that assessment in order to identify those who are at the greatest risk of harm.
Improving the victim experience of the criminal justice system: recommendation 1
The Ministry of Justice undertake a review of the victim journey with a view to exploring options for better delivery of Victims’ Code rights and communication, including exploration of a ‘single point of contact’ liaison or navigator that has responsibility for overseeing all communication and arrangements with the victim.