Your rights as a victim

Mature woman distracted on phone whilst man enters house (Photographer: Jacky Chapman)

If you have been a victim of crime you have the right to receive a good service from the criminal justice system.

Your legal rights are explained in a document called the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. The Code tells you what you can expect from each criminal justice agency, including the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the courts.

If you have been a victim, your key rights include:

  • the right to be kept informed about your case by the police (at least monthly)
  • the right to hear when a suspect is arrested, charged, bailed or sentenced
  • the right to apply for extra help when giving evidence in court (called ‘special measures’) if you are vulnerable or intimidated
  • the right to be told when an offender will be released, if they have been sentenced to a year or more in prison for a violent or sexual offence.
  • the right to be referred to Victim Support.

You can read a summary of your rights in The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime – a guide for victims and your rights are set out in full in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, both of which can be downloaded from the links below.

Downloads