This page hosts the Victims’ Commissioner’s detailed briefings on proposed amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill.
A Victims Law – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the victim experience of our criminal justice system
Upon my appointment as Victims’ Commissioner in October, I was tasked by the government to play a vital role in scrutinising the Victims and Prisoners Bill, ensuring it serves its purpose to improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system.
While there is much in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to commend it, I believe it needs to be much more ambitious if it is to deliver a transformation in the victim experience of our criminal justice system.
The Victims and Prisoners Bill must deliver:
- Accountability – ensuring criminal justice agencies are held to account in their delivery of victim rights under the Victims’ Code;
- Accessibility – providing vulnerable victims with the specialist support and rights they need; and
- Inclusivity – extending the remit of the Code to include those victims seriously impacted by crime who are currently or partially excluded.
Briefings and proposed amendments to the Bill
The Victims’ Commissioner has prepared a briefing on the Victims and Prisoners Bill ahead of its Committee stage in the House of Lords in January 2023.
- Victims and Prisoners Bill – Briefing and proposed amendments (January 2024)
- Victims and Prisoners Bill – Briefing (December 2023)
In-depth briefings
The Victims’ Commissioner has prepared bespoke, in-depth briefings on the following areas:
- Briefing on Victims’ Code compliance monitoring
- Briefing on third-party materials, privilege for notes of therapy and legal representation for victims of rape
- Briefing on victims of anti-social behaviour
- Briefing on victims of mentally disordered offenders
A Q&A on the Victims’ Commissioner’s third-party materials amendment is also available to download:
For further information on any of the proposed amendments, please email victims.commissioner@victimscommissioner.org.uk.