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The Victims’ Commissioner has always championed victims; now it has the powers to match

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The role of Victims’ Commissioner is unrecognisable from the role I first took on in 2013. Key reforms now provide the statutory powers needed to fulfil its original mandate—championing victims’ rights, monitoring the Victims’ Code, holding criminal justice agencies to account, and driving real change.

It has been – and remains – a huge honour to take on the role of Victims’ Commissioner. The role today is unrecognisable from the one I took up in 2013. Its influence, visibility, and authority have grown beyond all recognition. At the same time, victims’ issues have taken a more centre stage like never before, and the need for a strong, independent voice for victims has never been greater.  

This week marks a pivotal moment—new statutory powers come into force, finally equipping the Victims’ Commissioner with the tools to drive real change, bringing it more in line with the powers of the Domestic Abuse and Children’s Commissioners. It’s been a long road to this point.

Back in 2013, things got off to an inauspicious start. There was no dedicated office, no staff, and limited resources—it was a part-time position with little formal infrastructure. It was clear that strengthening the role was essential to giving victims the voice and support they deserved.

Having been through the justice system myself, I had both the determination and firsthand knowledge to challenge it. However, it took three years just to establish the office and lay the foundation for the work it does today.

While my small team and I worked tirelessly to build the office and secure the necessary resources, the role itself has always been hindered by a lack of statutory powers, limiting its ability to drive meaningful change.

The irony of my role as Victims’ Commissioner is that while I am tasked with reviewing the operation of the Victims’ Code, I’ve had no statutory powers to ensure agencies actually deliver.

That’s why the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 is a game-changer. For the first time, it introduces real accountability for how victims are treated. From this week, key provisions of the legislation take effect, ensuring the Commissioner will have more powers to monitor and oversee the performance of criminal justice agencies.

But what does this mean in practice?

My office regularly publishes research on victims’ experiences within the criminal justice system. These reports contain detailed, evidence-based recommendations to drive change. Yet beyond media headlines, these recommendations were easy for agencies to shrug off. That ends now.

Criminal justice agencies will now be legally required to respond publicly within 56 days—either setting out their plans for action or justifying their inaction. Their responses will be published on my website.

For the first time, agencies will have a statutory duty to cooperate with the Commissioner. Over my time in office, cooperation has varied—some agencies have engaged willingly, others less so. This is no longer a matter of goodwill; it is now a legal obligation. With these new powers, I can request and scrutinise data, shedding light on how the justice system operates and exposing the areas where victims are being let down.

Commissioners will also have a legal right to be consulted on any changes to the Victims’ Code, including its statutory guidance—the framework that instructs police, courts, and other agencies on how to uphold victims’ rights, giving the Victims’ Commissioner a central role in shaping how agencies must treat victims.

For the first time, criminal justice inspectorates will be required to consult the Victims’ Commissioner when developing their inspection frameworks and programmes, opening the possibility of more joint inspections on the treatment of victims.

Over time, compliance data will also be captured—measuring how well agencies meet their obligations under the Victims’ Code.

And for those agencies that fail to meet their obligations, there will be consequences. Poor performers will face formal ‘non-compliance notices’—and I will have a say in who receives them.

Of course, these changes will take time to embed. There are logistical challenges, such as collecting consistent data across multiple systems and ensuring that victims’ real experiences aren’t lost in the process.

But the direction is clear. And the government has signalled its intent to go even further, with the upcoming Victims, Courts, and Public Protection Bill expected to further strengthen the Commissioner’s powers, possibly including greater oversight of how agencies respond to victims of persistent anti-social behaviour.

Victims need a champion—someone who understands their experiences and fights for them. I’m proud to see these legal provisions take effect, strengthening the Victims’ Commissioner’s role and ensuring it continues to evolve into a more powerful and influential force within our criminal justice system.