NSPCC and Victim Support among those urging new Victims’ Minister to act quickly to help victims.
Read the joint letter to Minister Atkinson.
Millions of victims may have missed out on their basic rights while crucial legislation designed to enforce them is left gathering dust, leading charities including Victim Support and the NSPCC have warned.
Two years on from the landmark Victims and Prisoners Act, the charities have joined forces to urge the new Victims’ Minister to deliver long-awaited measures to uphold the rights that every victim of crime is entitled to.
The Act, which received Royal Assent in May 2024, places a duty on criminal justice agencies to monitor and report on how well they deliver victims’ rights under the Victims’ Code. These rights include the right to receive key updates and information, access support services, and make a personal statement.
But – writing to the new Victims’ Minister Catherine Atkinson MP – the two charities, alongside Catch22, SafeLives, The Children’s Society, Action for Children, and Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre), warn that victims across the country are still waiting to see their rights delivered and their support services strengthened as key provisions have yet to come into force.
With more than six million crimes recorded each year in England and Wales, the charities say this delay could mean that millions of victims have missed out on their rights over the past two years.
Research consistently shows that public agencies are failing to deliver people’s basic rights, leaving fewer than half of victims (42%) believing they can get justice and just over a quarter (27%) of victims recalling a referral to specialist support services.
The charities are calling on the government to act swiftly to implement the measures, so authorities are not only legally required to deliver victims’ rights but are also properly held to account. Without this, many victims will continue to be failed by the criminal justice system.
The Act also introduced a joint legal duty to drive collaboration in commissioning support services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and other serious violence – aiming to streamline and improve victims’ services and increase transparency. The charities are calling on the government to implement the duty – which has the potential to transform local support – without delay.
Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support, said:
“It beggars belief that two years on we are still waiting for vital measures to be implemented. We know that criminal justice agencies, such as the police, are routinely failing to ensure these vital rights are upheld – which is exactly why this legislation is so essential. Without it, the Victims’ Code is toothless.
“Every year, millions of people across the country experience crime – it should be a priority for the Government to ensure they are supported and protected. This legislation holds so much promise for victims but, unless it’s brought into force, that promise remains unfulfilled.
“We urge the government to ensure victims’ rights are properly promoted, enforced and made accessible to all victims of crime. Victims and survivors deserve nothing less.”
Elizabeth Crowhurst, Policy Manager at the NSPCC, said:
“Every child going through the courts deserves to have their rights under the Victims Code upheld and be supported through every step of the process, yet this is far from reality for too many young victims and witnesses.
“The Victims and Prisoners Act promised much needed change, and it is appalling that two years later these vital reforms have still not been delivered. This means that hundreds of thousands of child victims are still being fundamentally let down by the criminal justice system and are left unable to access the tailored and specialist support that they need.
“That’s why we are standing with Victim Support, along with partners from our Young Victims and Witnesses Coalition, to urge the Government to take urgent action to avoid any further delay in putting these measures into practice.”