New legislation empowers victims, ensuring they are at the heart of the justice process and strengthening their protections
The Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent and becomes law, marking a significant legislative change aimed at strengthening protections and rights for victims of crime across England and Wales. The new Act is designed to ensure that victims’ rights are protected and that they experience a fairer and faster justice process.
Announcing the legislation, ministers said the new law would ensure that victims’ “needs, voices and rights are at the heart” of justice processes, marking what they described as a significant shift in approach.
Justice Secretary David Lammy stated that for too long, many victims have been left to navigate a justice system where they often felt like an afterthought, but with the introduction of the new Victims and Courts Act, that will change. He emphasized that the Act will ensure that victims’ needs, voices, and rights are at the heart of the justice system, calling it “an Act for survivors, for bereaved families and for everyone who has fought to be heard.”
The Act introduces a series of measures aimed at improving victims’ experience at different stages of the justice process. One of the most prominent changes is a new power allowing courts to order offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with failure to comply potentially amounting to contempt of court and leading to further punishment.
It also includes provisions restricting the parental rights of offenders in serious cases, particularly where a child has been conceived through rape or where an offender has been convicted of serious sexual offences against a child. In addition, the Act expands post-conviction communication schemes, aiming to ensure victims are better informed about key developments such as the release of offenders.
Alex Davies-Jones, parliamentary under-secretary of state for victims and tackling violence against women and girls, said: “For every victim who has felt let down by the justice system, this legislation sends a powerful message: you matter, your voice matters, and your rights matter.”
She added: “From today, we’re putting victims’ interests at the heart of the justice system, to protect them, support them, and deliver the fairer justice they deserve.”
Beyond victim-focused reforms, the legislation introduces changes to the administration of criminal justice. These include removing restrictions on who can be appointed as a Crown Prosecutor, widening the pool of eligible candidates and potentially increasing capacity within the prosecution system.
The reforms build on wider efforts to strengthen victims’ rights, including improved access to information, greater transparency in sentencing decisions and enhanced oversight through the Victims’ Commissioner. They also sit within a broader policy shift towards increasing victims’ participation and awareness in the justice process.
Recent changes linked to the legislation include extending the time available to challenge unduly lenient sentences in certain cases and improving notification requirements so victims are made aware of their rights. The Act also supports measures aimed at improving access to information, such as enabling victims to obtain court transcripts and better understand how decisions affecting their cases are reached.