Victims Commissioner recommendations

The National Police Chiefs’ Council update their guidance and the Soteria national operating model to ensure that police staff are aware of the new threshold and are able to provide victims with accurate advice on their right to access therapy.

The Crown Prosecution Service reviews and updates its guidance on pre-trial therapy to reflect the new threshold and to ensure CPS staff provide victims with accurate information about their rights, to help inform their decision about whether to proceed with therapy before trial.

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.

The Crown Prosecution Service urgently amend their guidance on ‘witness summons' to reflect that the timeliness of the system impacts victim wellbeing.

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.

HMCPSI and HMICFRS jointly carry out a review of victim-facing communications, from the time the case enters the court system up to, and including, sentencing. This review should consider the quality and consistency of communications.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council should issue guidance to Chief Constables to ensure that Witness Care Units/ police staff are undertaking thorough victim needs assessments, which fully recognise the impact delays in the court system can have on victim wellbeing. There should be reference to victim vulnerabilities which carry significant risk of additional harm.

HMCPSI and HMICFRS jointly carry out a review of victim-facing communications, from the time the case enters the court system up to, and including, sentencing. This review should consider the quality and consistency of communications.

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.