Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on establishing a dedicated helpline to provide a new route for victims to request information through the Victims and Courts Act 2026, and when the helpline will open.

The Government is committed to delivering a new route for victims to request information about their offender as soon as practicable, and we are working with operational partners to ensure that implementation of the helpline is trauma-informed and effective. Work is underway and we expect to confirm timelines soon.

Victims eligible and opted into the Victim Contact Scheme will be notified of an offender’s release, in line with existing practice. Supporting victims and ensuring they are informed remains a key priority.