Overview

This Bill strengthens the rights and entitlements of victims of crime in England and Wales. It introduces new statutory rights, expands the role of the Victims' Commissioner, mandates reviews of decisions not to prosecute, establishes homicide reviews in unsolved cases, and creates a duty to report suspected child sexual abuse.

Description

The Bill significantly enhances victim support by:

• Defining "Victim": Broadening the definition to include close relatives of deceased or incapacitated victims, regardless of whether a complaint was made or charges filed.
• Victims' Code of Practice: Expanding the code to include rights to timely information, court notifications, information about the perpetrator, translation services, and contact details. It guarantees respectful treatment, protection during proceedings, access to support persons, and free transcripts of legal proceedings. It also ensures that victims have access to financial compensation, approval rights over compensation orders, reimbursement of expenses, and legal advice where necessary.
• Enforcement: Amending the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 to allow for investigations and reporting on breaches of the Victims' Code of Practice.
• Area Victims' Plans: Requiring elected local policing bodies to assess victims' needs and services and submit annual plans to the Commissioner.
• Commissioner's Duties: Expanding the Commissioner's role to include assessing area victims' plans, making recommendations, publishing quality standards for victim services, and issuing guidance on homicide reviews.
• Right to Review Non-Prosecution: Giving victims the right to request a review of decisions not to prosecute a case.
• Homicide Reviews: Establishing reviews for unsolved homicides or cases with acquittals to investigate why convictions were not secured.
• Mandatory Training: Mandating specialist training on working with victims of sexual and domestic violence for relevant professionals including judges, barristers, solicitors, police, victim support, probation services, health and social services, and educational institutions.
• Ground Rules Hearings: Requiring ground rules hearings in Crown Court proceedings involving vulnerable witnesses.
• Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse: Requiring healthcare professionals, teachers, and social care workers to report suspected cases of child sexual abuse to the police.

Government Spending

The Bill will likely lead to increased government spending on victim support services, training programs, and the administration of the new mechanisms for review and reporting. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Victims of Crime: Gain expanded rights and entitlements to support and information.
• Relatives of Victims: Included as victims under the broadened definition.
• Criminal Justice System: Faces additional responsibilities, including training requirements and new reporting obligations.
• Police Forces: Required to implement area victims' plans and respond to mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.
• Healthcare Professionals, Teachers, and Social Care Workers: Have a new duty to report suspected child sexual abuse.
• The Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses: Takes on expanded responsibilities for monitoring and oversight.

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