By Victims of crime will now always be told when an offender is due to leave prison as a new Victims’ Code comes into force.
The code is a charter of rights which dictate the minimum level of service victims can expect at every stage of the justice process, regardless of whether they choose to report the crime or not.
It insists that victims of crimes have the right to be given information which is easy to understand, with extra support provided if necessary. This includes details about the trial process, their role as a witness if necessary and the outcome of the case.
Where appropriate, victims will be automatically referred to the Victim Contact Scheme, which provides updates on the progress of a convicted offender and their eligibility for release or parole.
The new code also ensures vulnerable victims will have the ability to pre-record their cross-examination away from the courtroom, rather than give evidence in court.
Under the new code, which brings together 12 “overarching rights”, victims will be told what to expect at every stage of the justice system, regardless of whether they choose to report the crime or not, the Ministry of Justice said.
Among the changes, it will ensure:
- vulnerable victims are able to pre-record their evidence ahead of a trial, so they can avoid the stress of cross-examination in court
- victims can be provided with updates on the progress of a convicted offender and their eligibility for release or parole
- where an offender is a foreign national, victims will for the first time have the right to know when they are deported
- there will be greater flexibility over when and how a victim’s personal statement, which tells the court how the crime has affected them, can be made
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the move paves the way for a new Victims’ Law, which MPs will consult on this summer.
He said: “Our new Code provides victims with a simplified and stronger set of rights – making clear their entitlements at every step of the way as they recover from crime. But we are not stopping here and will consult on strengthening these rights even further through a Victims’ Law as we continue to build back confidence in the justice system.”
