Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations she has received on the operation of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Concerns have been raised about the operation of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime and we are actively considering how compliance might be improved and monitored. We have committed to set out our strategy for victims by 2018. Representations on the Code of Practice will inform this work.

The Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses, Baroness Newlove, regularly reviews the operation of the Code of Practice. She has published a number of reviews including about Victim Personal Statements on 18 January, and on 22 February published a review of children’s entitlements in the Code of Practice. The Department received representations on 23 January from Voice4Victims containing case studies of victims’ experiences including apparent failures to receive their entitlements under the Code of Practice.

The Department’s Ministers and officials regularly engage with victims’ organisations in relation to victims’ policy matters, to understand issues and concerns as well as to make sure that they can contribute to policy work. On 14 March I attended the cross-party Victims’ Forum, convened by Voice4Victims and chaired by Baroness Brinton of Kenardington, to listen to the concerns of victims and victims’ groups about the operation of the Code of Practice. We anticipate receiving further written representations from members of the Forum, and other information on victims’ experience of the criminal justice system.

Ministers and officials are engaging and working with agencies with responsibilities under the Code of Practice about the operation of it and concerns that have been raised.