Revise Victims Code for CSA victims
The Ministry of Justice should revise the Victims' Code to make clear that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse must be advised by the police that: 1. They are entitled to seek civil compensation through the civil courts and, if they wish to do so, should seek legal advice - they should be signposted to specialist lawyers identified by the Ministry of Justice. 2. They are entitled to assistance completing any application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, should they require it. Such assistance should be provided by independent sexual violence advisers or other suitably qualified and trained persons. 3. At the conclusion of any criminal proceedings, the court may make orders for the payment of criminal compensation by convicted offenders to their victims. 4. They are entitled to be referred to organisations supporting victims of sexual abuse. They should be signposted to the support services available in their local area. The College of Policing should make changes to its guidance (currently Authorised Professional Practice) to require police officers to provide oral and written information on each of these matters. The Ministry of Justice should also provide further information on how the new compliance framework, and any other developments, will improve compliance with the Code for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedOn 16 January 2020, the College of Policing made changes to its Authorised Professional Practice to require police officers to provide victims with information on their rights and entitlements under the Victims' Code. On 16 March 2021, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that a new Victims' Code would come into force on 1 April 2021. The Victims' Code was restructured so that victims are the primary audience and to focus on 12 key overarching rights. It sets out victims' rights to be provided with information about how to claim compensation for any loss, damage or injury caused as a result of a crime; that victims of child sexual abuse may be entitled to compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; and that the victim has the right to be told by the police how to seek court-ordered compensation. The Ministry of Justice also stated that it had issued the first iteration of a framework to monitor compliance with the Victims' Code to Local Criminal Justice Boards and police crime commissioners. It was agreed that police crime commissioners would oversee a new monitoring process. The Ministry of Justice noted that although progress on this recommendation was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work was underway to develop and test a new framework to enable reporting to resume. On 5 November 2021, the Ministry of Justice stated that it intended to consult on a Victims Bill to ensure the delivery of victims' rights under the Victims' Code. On 25 May 2022 the Ministry of Justice published a response to its consultation on improving victims' experiences of the justice system. The Ministry of Justice stated that it will introduce a wide range of measures within the Victims Bill and, as issues raised in the consultation cannot be addressed through legislation alone, that the Bill will sit alongside additional measures.