On 25 May 2022, the Government published the draft Victims Bill. In response to the Bill, Diana Fawcett, CEO of Victim Support, said:

“It is vital that victims have stronger rights, better support and real influence in the justice system. We welcome many of the measures set out in the draft Victims Bill, in particular the strengthening of the Victims’ Code. The Code is the single most important document for victims of crime, however too often rights that exist on paper are not delivered in reality. Putting the Code on a statutory footing could lead to real, tangible improvements for victims.

“Streamlining the complaints process will also help empower more victims to achieve their rights, and we welcome the additional powers for the Victims’ Commissioner. The Victims Bill is a true opportunity to improve victims’ experiences and we hope to see measures further strengthened by ensuring victims have access to independent support services and improving support for victims of anti-social behaviour. We look forward to continuing our work with the government to ensure that the final bill leads to meaningful change for victims.”

For more information, please contact Victim Support’s press office, press@victimsupport.org.uk or call 07766 070660.