Susannah Hancock appointed chief executive of the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner
Susannah Hancock, a board member of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales, has been appointed Chief Executive of the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner.
The appointment was announced on 23 March 2026. Ms Hancock will take on the new role while continuing her position on the YJB Board, where she leads on victims’ issues.
Ms Hancock brings experience across youth justice, emergency services and victim support. She previously served as Chief Executive of the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, working with partners across public services and criminal justice to support organisational development and collaboration.
Her earlier roles include serving as Head of London at the Youth Justice Board and later as Assistant Chief Executive at Victim Support. In that position, she led national work on partnerships, performance and strategy, working with organisations involved in delivering services to victims.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Hancock said her new role aligns with her responsibilities at the YJB, where she continues to focus on victims within the youth justice system. She highlighted the importance of recognising both the needs of children in the justice system and the impact of crime on victims.
She also emphasised the need to strengthen evidence, improve practice and build confidence in responses to harm, noting that reducing offending among children remains a key objective linked to reducing the number of victims.
Ms Hancock further stated that many children involved in the justice system have themselves experienced harm, and that understanding this can help inform approaches that support both victims and young people.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, said Ms Hancock had brought a strong focus on victims’ issues to her work and that her continued role on the board would ensure those perspectives remain central. She added that maintaining partnerships and focusing on outcomes for children and victims is important as the system continues to evolve.
Phil Bowen, Interim Chair of the YJB Board, also welcomed the appointment. He said Ms Hancock’s commitment to ensuring victims’ voices are recognised has been evident throughout her work and noted that her continued involvement with the board would support consistency and shared priorities across the sector.
The Office of the Victims’ Commissioner plays a role in promoting the interests of victims and witnesses, and the appointment places Ms Hancock in a position to contribute to policy and practice across both youth justice and victim services.