Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps her Department is taking to improve the services provided by her Office and its superintended agencies to victims of crime.
Improving the experience of victims is a priority for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and is an important part of building public confidence. In 2021, the CPS commissioned independent research to better understand victims’ needs and have since committed to transforming the service they provide to every victim. The CPS also published its commitment to transform how they communicate with victims under a long-term Victim Transformation Programme, and is now considering detailed design options for what a new service for victims could look like. The Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) work in supporting victims and witnesses has been positively recognised in two HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) inspection reports in the past two years. The 2022 report specifically praised the positive working relationships of the Victim and Witness Care Team with case teams, which have resulted in a better understanding across the SFO of how the organisation can best consider the needs of victims. |