Your rights under the Victim Code
On this page you will find information about your rights as a victim of crime under the victim code.
The Victims Code of Practice
The Victims’ Code applies to all criminal justice agencies, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Courts Service and the Probation Service. The Code was established by the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and came into effect in 2006. Victim Support lobbied for it to be introduced and has campaigned for it to be improved and strengthened.
The Code sets out what each criminal justice agency must do for victims and the timeframe in which they must do it.
Learn more about the Victims Code in this video by the Ministry of Justice.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Right 1 - To be able to understand and to be understood: You have the Right to be given information in a way that is easy to understand and to be provided with help to be understood, including, where necessary, access to interpretation and translation services.
- Right 2 - To have the details of the crime recorded without unjustified delay: You have the Right to have details of the crime recirded by the police as soon as possible after the incident. If you are required to provide a witness statement or be interviewed, you have the Right to be provided with additional support to assist you through this process.
- Right 3 - To be provided with information when reporting the crime: You have the Right to receive written confirmation when reporting a crime. to be provided with information about the criminal justice process and to be told about programmes or services for victims. This might include services where you can meet with the suspect or offender, which is known as Restorative Justice.
- Right 4 - To be referred to services that support victims and have services and support tailored to your needs: You have the Right to be referred to services that support victims, which includes the Right to contact them directly, and to have your needs assessed so services and support can be tailored to meet your needs. If eligible, you have the Right to be offered a referral to specialist support services and to be told about additional support available at court, for example special measures
- Right 5 - To be provided with information about compensation: Where eligible, you have the Right to be told about how to claim compensation for any loss, damage or injury caused as a result of crime.
- Right 6 - To be provided with information about the investigation and prosecution: You have the Right to be provided with updates on your case and to be told when important decisions are taken. You also have the Right, at certain stages of the justice process, to ask for decisions to be looked at again by the relevant service provider.
- Right 7 - To make a Victim Personal Statement: You have the Right to make a Victim Personal Statement, which tells the court how the crime has affected you and is considered when sentencing the offender. You will be given information about the process.
- Right 8 - To be given information about the trial, trial process and your role as a witness: If your case goes to court, you have the Right tobe told the time, date and location of any hearing and the outcome of those hearings in a timely way. If you are required to give evidence, you have the Right to be offered appropriate help before the trial and, where possible, if the court allows, to meet with the prosecutor before giving evidence.
- Right 9 - To be given information about the outcome of the case and any appeals: You have the Right to be told the outcome of the case and, if the defendant is convicted, to be given an explanation of the sentence. If the offender appeals against their conviction or sentence, you have the Right to be told about the appeal and its outcome.
- Right 10 - To be paid expenses and have property returned: If you are required to attend court and give evidence, you have the Right to claim certain expenses. If any of your property was taken as evidence, you have the Right to get it back as soon as possible.
- Right 11 - To be given information about the offender following a conviction: Where eligible, you have the Right to be automatically referred to the Victim Contact Scheme, which will provide you with information about the offender and their progress in prison, and if/when they become eligible for consideration of parole or release. Where applicable, you also have the Right to make a new Victim Personal Statement, in which you can say how the crime continues to affect you.
- Right 12 - To make a complaint about your Rights not being met: If you beleive that you have not received your Rights, you have the Right to make a complaint to the relevant service provider. If you remain unhappy, you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Revisions to the code
The Victims Code has been revised three times since it was first introduced in 2006.
The Code was most recently updated in March 2020, after the Government conducted a second consultation on the Victims Code of Practice, seeking views on the proposed changes with the ambition to improve the criminal justice system for victims. Further information on the consolation and a summary of its findings can be found here. As a result of the consultation, the Ministry of Justice has produced a revised Victims Code of Practice (2020) which will take effect from April 1 2021. The revised Code can be found here.
In October 2015, the code was amended to bring in new measures to comply with the European Union Victims’ Directive, which came into force in November 2015. The main changes to the Code were:
- Broadening the definition of a victim to include victims of all offences. Previously victims of some offences, such as careless driving or minor criminal damage, were not entitled to services under the Code.
- Ensuring that victims are entitled to receive support and information from all relevant public sector bodies. Organisations such as HMRC, the Serious Fraud Office and the National Crime Agency now have obligations to victims under the Code.
- Entitling all victims who report a crime to receive a written acknowledgement from the police.
The Code was previously revised in December 2013 to clarify victims’ entitlements and the obligations of criminal justice agencies. The update gave victims the right to read a Victim Personal Statement in court (subject to the views of the court) and to receive information about taking part in restorative justice schemes.
How to make a complaint
If you’re a victim of crime and you feel that your rights under the Code have not been met then you can complain directly to the criminal justice agency concerned, such as your local police force or the Crown Prosecution Service.
If you have done so and are still dissatisfied then you can take your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, who is responsible for considering complaints relating to the Victims’ Code. You must first contact your MP and ask them to refer your complaint to the Ombudsman as they will not consider cases directly from a member of the public. Find your local MP.
Related links
The Victims' Code leaflet
Understanding the Victims’ Code for young people
The Victims’ Code poster
The Victims’ Code easy read
A full copy of the Victims Code can be found through the attached link. Links are also provided to other sites containing further information of use to victims.
If you have been the victim of a crime and you have a comment or something to say about the service you received the police and crime commissioner would like to hear from you. Please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page.