Victims’ Rights

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales

This is known as the ‘Victims Code’. It sets out the information, support and services that crime victims in England and Wales have a right to. This help should come from criminal justice agencies like the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Courts.

Read the code

Representatives

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales promotes the interests of victims and witnesses. Baroness Helen Newlove is the interim Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales. Baroness Helen was a founding member of Through Unity and we wish her well in this vital role.

victimscommissioner.org.uk

Independent Victims’ Commissioner for London

Claire Waxan OBE is the Independent Victims’ Commissioner for London.

She wants victims of crime to have a better experience and aims to do this by improving practices, policies, and service provision. She works with victims and survivors to makes sure their voices are heard by criminal justice partners. Through Unity is a member of her Victims Reference Group.

Siobhian Brown - Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Appointed March 2023)

Research into the needs of people affected by homicide

‘Review into the needs of families bereaved by homicide’

Louise Casey’s groundbreaking 2011 report into the needs of families bereaved through homicide (PDF)

‘Life sentence: understanding the experiences and support needs of those bereaved by murder and manslaughter’

A 2023 report on the experiences of people bereaved through homicide, building on Louise Casey’s earlier report. (PDF)

Victims’ experience: Annual Survey 2022

The results of a wider victims’ survey carried out by the Victims’ Commissioner of England and Wales (PDF).

Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove addresses House of Lords about the poor treatment of victims and the need for a ‘victims’ law’. (YouTube, 6 min clip)