Your rights
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime was launched on 3 April 2006. For the first time criminal justice agencies are required by law to provide minimum standards of service to victims of crime. The Code will ensure all victims are kept up to date on the progress of their case - when someone is arrested, charged, bailed and sentenced. It also provides an enhanced service for vulnerable and intimidated victims.
Some of the key requirements of the Code include:
- A right to information about your crime within specified time scales, including the right to be notified of any arrests and court cases.
- A dedicated family liaison police officer to be assigned to bereaved relatives.
- Clear information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) on eligibility for compensation under the Scheme.
- All victims to be told about Victim Support and either referred on to them or offered their service.
- An enhanced service in the cases of vulnerable or intimidated victims.
- Flexibility with regard to opting in or out of receiving services to ensure victims receive the level of service they want.
The agencies bound by the Code of Practice are:
- All police forces for police areas in England and Wales, the British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police
- The Crown Prosecution Service
- Her Majesty's Court Service
- Joint police/Crown Prosecution Service Witness Care Units
- The Parole Board
- The Prison Service
- Local Probation Boards
- Youth Offending Teams
- The Criminal Compensation Authority
- The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel
- The Criminal Cases Review Commission
Making a Complaint
It is important that victims are aware of their rights and that they challenge criminal justice agencies if they do not feel they are receiving a sufficient level of service.
If you don't think that you have had the support, information and advice set out in the Code, you can make a complaint to the agency involved. If you are not happy with the response you receive, you can take your complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman through your MP.
Details of how to complain, along with information on the services you can expect to receive from each agency are contained in the 'Guide for Victims' which can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.