Policy background Victims of criminal conduct measures
In 2019/20, it was estimated that 6.6% of 10-15-year olds and around one in five adults (19.3%) in England and Wales were victims of crime.1 In December 2021, the Government launched a public consultation "Delivering justice for victims: A consultation on improving victims’ experiences of the justice system"2 to inform development of this law. The Government consulted broadly on how to improve what victims can expect from the criminal justice system and how to improve aspects of victim support services. Its aim was to better understand the experiences of victims and harness expertise from frontline practitioners and experts, to ensure that the Act and accompanying measures improve support for victims throughout the criminal justice system. The consultation ran for eight weeks and received over 600 responses.
	The Government’s response to the consultation set out the legislative and non-legislative measures planned to improve victims’ experiences of the justice system. The Bill at introduction sought to facilitate a more consolidated framework to better support victims through the following legislative measures:
placing the overarching principles of the Victims’ Code in primary legislation
placing a duty on relevant bodies to promote awareness of the Victims’ Code
enhancing oversight of delivery of the Victims’ Code through better data collection and an enhanced role of Police and Crime Commissioners at the local level
introducing a duty on Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities and Integrated Care Boards in England to collaborate locally, to facilitate more holistic and better coordinated victim support services
improving consistency of support provided by Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors by requiring the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance about these roles, and placing a requirement on those advisors as well as other persons who work with victims, or any aspect of the criminal justice system - with the exception of the Judiciary - to have regard to that guidance.
updating the role of the Victims’ Commissioner, including a requirement for departments and agencies with a responsibility to meet the requirements under the Victims’ Code to, if named, respond to recommendations made by the Victims’ Commissioner in their published reports.
bolstering national oversight through a power to direct joint thematic inspections on victims’ experiences and a requirement for the criminal justice inspectorates to consult the Victims’ Commissioner.
removing the need to raise a complaint via an MP before it can be escalated to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, where the complaint relates to the complainant’s experiences as a victim of crime.
Creates provisions to ensure that the police and other specified law enforcement organisations request information from third parties in respect of victims of criminal conduct only when it is necessary and proportionate and in pursuit of a reasonable line of inquiry.
	The draft Victims Bill was published for pre-legislative scrutiny on 25 May 2022. Pre-legislative scrutiny was carried out by the Justice Select Committee and the Government’s response to their report was published on 19 January 2023.