Victims Strategy Published September 2018 Cm 9700 Victims Strategy Presented to Parliament by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice by Command of Her Majesty Published September 2018 Cm 9700 © Crown copyright 2018 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at [email protected] This document is also available from our website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/victims-strategy Print ISBN: 978-1-5286-0780-3 CCS0818407350 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Contents Foreword from the Prime Minister 6 Foreword from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice 7 Executive summary 8 Introduction 10 Chapter 1: Overarching improvements to victims’ experience 17 Chapter 2: Support available whether or not victims report a crime 22 Chapter 3: If a victim reports a crime 28 Chapter 4: The court process 34 Chapter 5: After court 39 Annex 1: Our approach 43 Annex 2: Equalities statement 45 Annex 3: Glossary 46 Annex 3: Endnotes 48 5 Foreword from the Prime Minister Becoming a victim of crime is a deeply traumatic experience for anyone, often leaving scars – physical or mental – that linger for many years after the event. In creating it we have listened to at the criminal justice system victims and their families, looked through the eyes of the victim, this closely at the problems they strategy will do just that. faced and worked with them to It is a significant step forward find solutions. While there is no both for the system and for such thing as a typical crime or a victims themselves – and one typical victim, it is clear that many that will make a very real victims have had experiences difference to countless lives for that fell short of what we would many years to come. like to see. We have heard from victims who found the criminal justice system impossibly difficult to navigate Becoming a victim of crime is a and understand: from people deeply traumatic experience for who were never told the outcome anyone, often leaving scars – The Rt Hon Theresa May MP of a case they were involved in, physical or mental – that linger for Prime Minister and from victims who reported many years after the event. a crime and followed all the Such a trauma must never be instructions they were given, but compounded by an individual’s were not told about entitlements experience of the criminal justice such as the right to make a Victim system. Rather, as we made clear Personal Statement or challenge in our manifesto, all victims of an unduly lenient sentence. crime have a right to know that Tackling such problems and the state is on their side. That ensuring that victims of crime are their complaints will be taken supported at every stage of the seriously. And that their views will criminal justice system is what not only be heard, but actively this strategy is all about. And, listened to and acted upon. because rights are meaningless Over the past eight years, we without the means to enforce have done much to make sure them, the strategy also sets out that happens, for example by how we plan to enshrine victims’ introducing the Victims’ Panel entitlements in law. and by shining a much-needed Because, while fighting crime and light on crimes that were for keeping people safe and secure too long allowed to happen out is among the first duties of any of sight and out of mind – for government, it is not enough example child sexual exploitation simply to catch and punish and modern slavery. offenders: we must also support Building on that progress, this their victims. strategy is the latest step in We must make it easier for people making sure victims receive the who have suffered a crime to support they need throughout cope, recover and move on with their experience of the criminal rebuilding their lives. By looking justice system. 6 Foreword from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Most of us don’t come into direct contact with the criminal justice system. On the rare occasion we do, it will probably be because we have been a victim of crime. of a Victims’ Panel, as well as the victims. It puts forward a package Modern Slavery Act and bringing of measures that will further forward legislation on upskirting. improve trust in, and a victim’s Taken together, this work means experience of, each stage of their the voice of, and protections for, experience. It will ensure victims victims are stronger now than are offered the support they should they ever have been. In 2017, the be and they have clear, reassuring tragedy of Grenfell as well as the and empowering information about terrorist attacks in London and the justice process. Where support Manchester brought into sharp for victims needs to be backed up focus the way we treat victims. in law, we will look to legislate. It is clear that many victims still do The strategy also highlights extra not have clear enough information funding for specialist support After every crime, and behind and the right support they need to meet the needs of victims of every crime statistic, there are at the right time. Too many are let particularly pernicious crimes that real victims and families left down by their experience of the are on the rise such as violent picking up the pieces – physically, justice system and feel their voice assaults and sexual and domestic psychologically and financially. is not being heard. Crime and the abuse. For the parents who have How we support victims is a mark needs of victims are also changing. lost a child to knife crime, for the of the kind of country we are. Our response must change too. person who has been living for Every victim’s journey is different. Whilst overall crime has been years with the burden of being For some, it is short and quickly falling, violent crime is rising. sexually abused and has finally behind them. For others, it is a There are more reports of sexual come forward and broken their journey that can last for years and offences, with victims feeling more silence, for the elderly couple take over their lives. Whatever the able to come forward. And we swindled out of their life savings nature of the crime, people want are seeing increases in fraud and online: their grief and anguish to know there will be the right cyber-crime, which now account should not be compounded by support available. for just under half of all crime in grievance and anger towards a This Victims Strategy consolidates England and Wales. system that should support them. years of progress we have made Our reforms on offender Whatever the crime, and whatever and builds on the important rehabilitation will help to prevent path and outcome a victim’s milestones already reached to crime and future victims. But we journey takes, this strategy will build improve the rights, support and must also make sure the support on the progress we have made experience of victims. Through is there for people who have a to help victims in the immediate this work, we have a much better crime committed against them. aftermath of a crime and ensure understanding of the needs of they can be an active and properly victims. The creation of a Victims’ The message from victims is clear: supported participant in the Commissioner was one important they want to be treated fairly, process of seeing justice delivered. aspect of that and I pay tribute to properly and with dignity. They the current Victims’ Commissioner, want clear, timely and accurate Baroness Newlove, for her input information. They want the to the strategy and her ongoing opportunity and the support to work in the interests of victims make their voice heard. That’s why The Rt Hon David Gauke MP and witnesses. Other important this strategy sees crime and the Lord Chancellor and Secretary reforms include the establishment justice system through the eyes of of State for Justice 7 Executive summary This cross-government Victims Strategy sets out a criminal justice system wide response to improving the support offered to victims of crime and incorporates actions from all criminal justice agencies, including the police, CPS and courts. This strategy builds on the good In Chapter 1, we set out our In Chapter 2, we set out how we progress we have made over the key, overarching commitments. will improve support for all victims past few years to ensure victims These include: of crime, whether or not they have the right help in the aftermath report the crime. This includes of a crime and are properly Strengthen the Victims’ Code, commitments to: supported in the process of seeing and consult on the detail of justice delivered. victim focused legislation, Increase spending from £31m including strengthening in 2018 to £39m in 2020/21 to Our vision is for a justice system the powers of the Victims’ improve services and pathways that supports even more victims Commissioner, and delivering a for survivors and victims of to speak up by giving them Victims’ Law. sexual violence and abuse the certainty that they will be who seek support to and from understood, that they will be Hold agencies to account for Sexual Assault Referral Centres.