Fewer than half of victims believe they can get justice, finds Victims’ Commissioner

• Victims report being denied a voice at critical stages, with some refused the chance to read their Victim Personal Statement in court and only 14% aware of their right to challenge a decision to drop their case.
• Systemic issues, from delays to poor communication, are actively harming victims, with many forced to withdraw from the justice process to protect their own wellbeing.

Download the Victims’ Commissioner’s Annual Victims’ Survey 2024

A new report from Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, reveals widespread low levels of confidence in the criminal justice system. The report, based on powerful testimony from over 6,500 victims – the largest survey ever undertaken by the Commissioner – identifies systemic issues of poor communication, extensive delays, and a failure to deliver statutory rights as key drivers of this low confidence. Victims reported feeling isolated, unheard, and treated like a ‘statistic’ rather than a person.

Only a third of LGBTQ+ victims were confident they could receive justice by reporting a crime, while less than half of Disabled victims and female victims were confident in the fairness of the justice system – a finding that echoes the Commissioner’s recent review on the systemic hurdles faced by Disabled victims.

This lack of confidence presents a clear barrier to reporting, especially for certain crimes and demographics. The survey found that 41% of rape and sexual assault victims and 36% of hate crime victims did not report the incident. The disparity is also stark across ethnic groups: nearly a third (32%) of Asian and Black victims did not report the crime, compared to just over a fifth (21%) of white victims. Younger people were by far the least likely to report; the non-reporting rate for those aged 16-24 was 38%, nearly double the rate for those over 34 (18-20%).

Victims reported a range of factors which undermined their confidence, including a perception that justice agencies lacked the resources to be effective, and a sense that they would not be supported or believed. Some victims cited a fear that police involvement may worsen the criminal behaviour; this was especially true in cases of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, and anti-social behaviour.

Perceptions of the police were nuanced. While fewer than half felt their case was investigated thoroughly (43%) or that they were kept informed (40%), this was balanced by a recognition of the resource constraints facing officers, and over two-thirds (68%) of victims reported they would still be willing to report a crime again.

However, this willingness was not universal, dropping significantly for victims of rape and sexual assault. This disparity highlights that while resources are a factor, expertise is critical: positive experiences for these victims were consistently linked to specialist officer training, reinforcing the need to embed learnings from initiatives like Operation Soteria nationwide.

The report highlights how procedural delays can lead to prosecutions becoming impossible when statutory time limits are missed, while court delays force victims of rape and sexual assault to wait years for a trial. Victims report that these waits have a severe impact on their mental health and leave them feeling their safety is at risk. Many victims feel they have no choice but to withdraw from the process to protect their wellbeing.

Victims repeatedly stated that receiving updates would have significantly improved their experience, even when the outcome was not what they had hoped for. Conversely, the absence of communication left many feeling abandoned and in limbo.

Court delays were also worsened by poor communication. Many victims described arriving at court only to be told at the last minute that their hearing was adjourned, compounding an already stressful experience. Despite this, over two-thirds of victims reported receiving good support from court staff, including Witness Service volunteers, ushers, and judges.

Notably, a fifth of victims reported that the conviction and sentence were not properly explained to them. This finding is particularly timely given the landmark sentencing reforms expected in the upcoming Sentencing Bill.

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

“This year’s Victim Survey is the largest ever, with over 6,500 voices sharing their experiences. For me, these voices matter. They are telling us not only what is working, but crucially where the system is failing victims, the very people it is meant to protect.

“One of the most striking and most worrying findings is the lack of confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Most concerning of all, many victims told us they doubt they would receive justice if they reported a crime. That should trouble us all. If victims lose faith in the system, they may stop coming forward. Justice cannot be delivered if victims are silent.

“I believe all victims deserve to be treated with decency and respect. This means good communication, tailored support, and a clear understanding of their rights and entitlements. Sadly, this report sends a very clear message that we have a great deal of work to do to rebuild victim confidence in the justice system.”

Additional findings

• Less than a fifth had heard of the Victims’ Code, with many forced to learn about their rights through their own research. Only 14% had heard of the Victims’ Right to Review.
• Only 27% of victims recalled being referred to specialist support services, despite the majority who received support finding it vital for their recovery. For those referred, particularly victims of rape and sexual assault, lengthy waiting lists often created another barrier to accessing crucial support.
• Just 59% of victims entitled to special measures -such as a physical screen to shield them from the offender, or a video link to give evidence remotely – had their options explained, with some advised against using these measures to appear more “convincing” to a jury.
• Many victims reported never receiving court-awarded compensation, forcing some into financial hardship.

About the research

The report’s findings are based on a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data with qualitative victim testimony.

The quantitative findings are from an online or telephone survey of 6,581 victims of crime in England and Wales, conducted by the social research organisation TONIC between 25 November and 31 December 2024. Qualitative insights were drawn from open-ended responses within the survey.

The survey data has been weighted to be nationally representative of crime victims (aged 16+) by age, gender, region, ethnicity, and disability.

• Download the Annual Victims’ Survey 2024.