Victims Code of Practice

The Ministry of Justice’s revised Code of Practice for Victims of Crime became effective in April 2021.

The Victims’ Code sets out in plain English what people should expect from the moment they report a crime to the end of a trial.

The Code will make sure that victims of the most serious crimes, including hate crime, domestic violence, terrorism and sexual offences, persistently targeted victims and all vulnerable and intimidated victims get access to vital services, like pre-trial therapy and counseling.

The statutory Victims’ Code will also:

Entitle victims to say whether they want to read out their Victim Personal Statement in court, subject to the court’s discretion
Ensure all victims are automatically referred to victims’ service by the police so that all victims receive consistent and immediate access to support services
Give victims a clearer means of redress if they are not given the support they deserve
For the first time give businesses, who are victims of 9.2 million crimes committed each year, the ability to have their say by writing an Impact Statement to explain to the court how a crime has affected them.

The Ministry of Justice have set out how victims of crime will get better support (opens link in a new window) from the police, courts and other criminal justice agencies under the new Victims’ Code which came into force today on 1 April 2021.

Here you can read the full version of the Victim’s Code (opens link in a new widow).

Other materials available on this page includes:

Public information leaflets about the new Code, one specifically aimed at adults, another at under-18s.
A poster highlighting the support victims are entitled to during their journey through the criminal justice system.
A YouTube video aimed at helping under-18s understand the support and information they are entitled to under the Code is also available on this page
An Easy Read version of the Code for people with learning difficulties.
An audio version is available for the visually impaired.

If you are a victim of crime and do not feel you have received the service required by the code, you can approach the relevant agency and deal with the matter through their complaints process.