2022 Victim Survey

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See the press release.

Overview

Launched in the summer of 2022, the Victims’ Commissioner’s 2022 Victim Survey sought to understand victims’ priorities and gain insights into their experiences of the criminal justice system over the past three years. Around 500 victims from across England and Wales completed the survey and we have produced a report to highlight our key findings and make comparisons to the responses we received in our 2021 and 2020 victim surveys.

The findings highlight a justice system in need of reform, with victim confidence and satisfaction shown to be worryingly low. Many victims expressed their disappointment with the criminal justice system, but most notably, only a third of victims we spoke to said that they would report a crime to the police again.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

“The 2022 Victim Survey, undertaken when my predecessor was in post, echoes what we’ve heard before from previous such surveys – victims care deeply about how they are treated and place a high value on procedural justice. Indeed, for over half of those we surveyed, how the justice system treats them matters more to them than securing a conviction. They want to be treated with respect and dignity, they want the crime they are reporting investigated and they want to be kept informed of the progress of their case.”

Victims aren’t asking for much; they’re asking for fairness – a level playing field, where their needs and rights are considered alongside those of the offenders. A capable and competent justice system that is sensitive to the needs and interests of victims, delivers procedural justice, and gives victims a voice in proceedings is the key to better justice for everyone.”