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The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime
This Code of Practice describes the services to be provided victims of crime in England and Wales. The Code is the minimum level of service. In some areas, organisations provide additional services (not covered by the code) in accordance with priorities agreed by Local Criminal Justice Boards.
Title: The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime
Author: Office for Criminal Justice Reform
Date published: October 2005
Number of pages: 24
Availability:
Download full report
PDF 116Kb
The code applies to the following organisations
The Criminal Cases Review Commission
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel
The Crown Prosecution Service
Her Majesty's Courts Service
The joint police/Crown Prosecution Service Witness Care Units
All police forces for police areas in England and Wales,
British Transport Police
Ministry of Defence Police
The Parole Board
The Prison Service
The Probation Service
Youth Offending Teams
Support
All victims should have access to a range of support services in their area. In the case of murder victims, their families are entitled to support.
No organisation has an obligation under this Code to ensure appropriate support services are available for every victim, but the Government aims to ensure that every victim has access to appropriate support services in their local area. Such support needs to be timely and of sufficient quality to meet the individual needs of every victim, including victims who require specialist support. For example, pre-trial court familiarisation visits should be offered to victims called to give evidence at criminal proceedings as witnesses. Where the court makes a special measures direction due to the age or vulnerability of the victim being called to give evidence, that witness should expect to receive an enhanced level of support.
All victims are entitled under this Code to receive information about local support services in their area. Full details of support to be offered by each of the organsiations listed above can be found in the full report.
Getting a copy
Download The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime from the CJS Online website
PDF 116Kb
Last update: 20 October 2005