- new draft legislation to cement voice of victims and improve
support
- prosecutors obliged to meet victims before certain trials
- offenders forced to pay more for cost of crimes raising extra
£20 million for support services
Draft legislation published today by the Deputy Prime Minister
will pave the way for the
first ever Victims’ Law – putting their needs and voices firmly
at the heart of the justice system.
It will see victims’ views sought at regular points during their
case, with greater accountability placed on agencies such as the
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police for the service they
provide to them. Victims will also be given clearer routes of
redress if they do not receive the support they are entitled to.
For the first time, a duty will be placed on prosecutors to meet
victims in certain cases before trial in order to hear their
views. Victims will also be given the right to attend Parole
Board hearings in full and to submit questions during the process
– such as querying an offender’s suitability for release. The
Parole Board will be required to consider victims’ views and
concerns before making a decision in a case.
Criminals will also be forced to pay more towards crucial victim
services such as rape support centres with a 20 percent increase
to the Victim Surcharge that will raise an extra £20 million by
2025. This penalty fee is imposed on offenders when they are
sentenced for crimes, to ensure they take responsibility for
their actions and pay back to society by contributing to services
which support victims.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for
Justice said:
No victim should feel lost in a faceless system. We’re amplifying
victims’ voices, boosting their rights at every stage and making
criminals pay more to help victims recover.
We’re doing this because it is morally the right thing to do to
strengthen the care for victims, but also because it is
operationally critical to drive up convictions – and keep our
streets safe.
The reforms come as the government continues to drive
improvements for victims, in particular those of rape and sexual
offences, for which convictions rose 27 percent last year
compared to before the pandemic.
There are now 26 courts where rape victims can following a
successful application to the court pre-record their cross
examination, sparing them the stress of giving evidence under the
full glare of a courtroom, with a national rollout due to
complete by September.
The draft Bill will outline how the Victims’ Code will be set out
in law and introduce additional scrutiny on the support victims
receive from the police, Crown Prosecution Service, prisons and
the Probation Service. Ministers will be able to order the
criminal justice inspectorates to undertake regular joint
inspections on victims’ issues and produce action plans to drive
improvements.
Diana Fawcett, Chief Executive of the independent charity Victim
Support said:
It is vital that victims have stronger rights, better support and
real influence in the justice system.
The Victims’ Bill announced today presents a true opportunity to
improve victims’ experiences and we look forward to continuing
our work with the government to ensure that the final bill leads
to meaningful change for victims.
It will also introduce a new duty on Police and Crime
Commissioners, local authorities and health organisations to work
together when commissioning services for victims of domestic
abuse, sexual violence and other serious violence so that
services are more effective.
Victims will also find it easier to make complaints about the
service they have received, by removing the requirement for them
to go through their local MP before speaking to the Parliamentary
and Health Service Ombudsman.
The legislation will also establish a statutory definition for
Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) and Independent
Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) to ensure that these vital
roles are more consistent. This will ensure victims know that
they will receive a high standard of support from them.
In March the government announced that victim support services
would receive £440 million in grant funding over the next 3
years, helping to fund more than 1,000 Independent Sexual and
Domestic Violence Advisors and a 24/7 rape crisis helpline.
Notes to editors
- The Draft Victims Bill
will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Commons
Justice Select Committee, with the Committee’s feedback being
considered before the Bill’s formal introduction
- In March 2020, the government announced
an increase in the Victim Surcharge of five percent. This
was part of a commitment made during the 2019 election to
increase the surcharge by 25 percent.
- A new cross-government Victims Funding Strategy which will
tackle barriers to sustainable funding and drive consistent
commissioning, so that victims get the right support at the right
time.
