Overview

This bill enhances the rights and entitlements of crime victims in England and Wales. It strengthens the victims' code of practice, expands the duties of the Victims' Commissioner, introduces a right to review decisions not to prosecute, establishes homicide reviews in certain cases, and mandates reporting of potential child sexual abuse cases by specified professionals.

Description

Victims' Code of Practice:

The bill significantly strengthens the victims' code of practice, ensuring victims receive timely information, adequate notice of legal proceedings, information about the perpetrator, access to translation services, and direct contact details of relevant agencies. It also guarantees dignified and respectful treatment in court proceedings, protection from unnecessary delays, and access to support personnel.

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses:

The bill expands the Commissioner's role to include assessment of local victims' plans, issuing recommendations, creating quality standards for victims' services, and providing guidance for homicide reviews.

Right to Review Decisions Not to Prosecute:

Victims gain the right to request a review of a decision not to prosecute, with regulations specifying the review process and ensuring independence from the original decision-maker.

Homicide Reviews:

The bill mandates homicide reviews for cases where a person aged 16 or over dies in a homicide, and no one is charged or if charged, they are acquitted. It will determine reasons for lack of conviction and engage specified bodies in the review.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse:

The bill imposes a duty on healthcare professionals, teachers, and social workers to report potential child sexual abuse cases to the police within 28 days.

Training:

The bill requires those involved in criminal cases of sexual and domestic violence to undergo specialized training.

Government Spending

The bill's financial implications are not specified in the provided text, but it is likely to increase government spending on support services for victims, training, and the administration of homicide reviews.

Groups Affected

• Victims of crime: Gain enhanced rights, including information access, protection during legal proceedings, and a right to review decisions not to prosecute.
• Close relatives of victims: Extend the definition of "victim" to include close relatives of deceased or incapacitated victims.
• Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses: Assumes expanded duties and responsibilities.
• Local Policing Bodies: Required to assess victims' services and prepare area victims' plans.
• Healthcare professionals, teachers, and social workers: Have a new mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse.
• Judges, barristers, solicitors, CPS, victim support services, probation services, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, health and social services, and educational institutions: Required to participate in specialist training.

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