Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the level of the barriers to accessing support services for victims of crime who live in rural communities.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in these services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery.

The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with core grant funding for victims of all crime types, to allocate at their discretion based on their assessment of local need. In addition, we provide ringfenced funding specifically for domestic abuse and sexual violence services.

PCCs are best placed to understand their local communities and providers, and to commission appropriate support to meet the need of victims in their area. PCCs carry out local needs assessment and commission support based on this assessment, via a range of victim support providers who vary in specialism and size.

In light of the announcement to abolish the PCC function in May 2028, we are exploring changes to the delivery of victims funding to ensure this is delivered in the best way in the future. We recognise the important work PCCs and Mayors in commissioning vital support services for victims, including victims of crime in rural communities. Ensuring ongoing support to victims is a key priority for this Government.