While some inspectorates already routinely consult the Victims’ Commissioner, during the pre-legislative scrutiny process, stakeholders drew attention to the lack of a formal consultative role. It is important that the needs of victims are robustly considered within criminal justice inspections. The Act therefore places a duty on criminal justice inspectorates to consult the Victims’ Commissioner when developing their work programmes and frameworks.
	Existing legislation requires inspectorates to consult a variety of stakeholders on inspection frameworks and programmes – such as the other criminal justice inspectorates, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Auditor General for Wales. The Act amends this legislation to include the Victims’ Commissioner alongside the existing mandatory consultees.
Policy background Duty on criminal justice inspectorates to consult the Victims’ Commissioner