Victims' Code breaches (CSA)
19 items
2 sources
Non-compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse by various agencies.
Cross-Source Insight
Victims' Code breaches (CSA) has been flagged across 2 independent accountability sources:
17 inquiry recs
2 PFD reports
This issue has been identified by multiple independent accountability bodies, suggesting it is a recurring systemic concern.
Inquiry Recommendations (17)
3 — Disapply 12-month limit for CSA police complaints
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the National Police Chiefs' Council ensures that complaints relating to child sexual abuse are no longer 'disapplied' by police forces on the grounds that the incident involved took place more than 12 months before …
Gov response: This recommendation is directed at the National Police Chiefs' Council which has responded separately to the Inquiry.
Accepted
Delivered
74 — Joint inspection of Victims Code compliance
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Attorney General commission a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The Victims' Commissioner should be …
Gov response: The Victims Strategy commits to hold agencies to account for compliance with the Victims' Code through improved reporting, monitoring and transparency on whether victims are receiving entitlements. The Ministry of Justice is considering the role …
Not Accepted
76 — Vulnerable witness protections in civil courts
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice provides in primary legislation that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in civil court cases, where they are claiming compensation in relation to the abuse they suffered, are afforded …
Gov response: At the request of the MoJ, the Master of the Rolls has agreed to the Civil Justice Council considering these issues, drawing on the experience not only of the criminal but also the family justice …
Accepted
Delivered
78 — Revise Victims Code for CSA victims
Recommendation: 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, …
Gov response: On 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 …
Accepted
Delivered
79 — Codes of practice for civil CSA claims
Recommendation: The Local Government Association and the Association of British Insurers should each produce codes of practice for responding to civil claims of child sexual abuse. The codes should include recognition of the long-term emotional and psychiatric or psychological effects of …
Gov response: Association of British Insurers: In August 2021, the Association of British Insurers published a Code of Practice on Responding to Civil Claims of Child Sexual Abuse. It seeks to improve certain aspects of the civil …
Accepted
Delivered
81 — Revised damages guidelines for CSA cases
Recommendation: The Judicial College should revise its Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases to include a freestanding section on the damages that may be appropriate in cases of child sexual abuse. This new section of the …
Gov response: The Judicial College informed the Inquiry that the revised edition of its Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases was published on 11 April 2022. The Judicial College stated that the …
Accepted
Delivered
88 — Rehabilitation code for CSA civil claims
Recommendation: The International Underwriting Association of London should take the lead in the production of a code for the benefit of claimants who are bringing civil claims for child sexual abuse. The aim should be to produce a code, comparable to …
Gov response: On 23 February 2021, the International Underwriting Association of London stated that it had established a working party to develop a rehabilitation code. On 14 December 2021, the International Underwriting Association of London stated that …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
97 — Clarify Compensation Act on apologies
Recommendation: The government should introduce legislation revising the Compensation Act 2006 to clarify that section 2 facilitates apologies or offers of treatment or other redress to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse by institutions that may be vicariously liable for …
Gov response: On 16 March 2021, the Ministry of Justice stated that it would consult on the subject of apologies, including consideration of the use of apologies in civil proceedings generally. On 4 May 2022, the Ministry …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
98 — Increase use of criminal compensation orders
Recommendation: The Ministry of Justice should consult with the Sentencing Council, the Judicial College, the Crown Prosecution Service and other relevant bodies, in order to increase the use of criminal compensation orders, where appropriate, in cases involving child sexual abuse by, …
Gov response: On 6 April 2020, the Ministry of Justice stated that it had consulted with the Judicial College and the Sentencing Council in respect of implementing guidance for the judiciary in the Crown Court and Magistrates' …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
FR-14 — Victim Code Compliance
Recommendation: The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Interim Report, dated April 2018) that the UK government commissions a joint inspection of compliance with the Victims' Code in relation to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to be undertaken …
Gov response: We accept the need to ensure compliance with the Victims Code. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates have included an inspection on the ‘experiences of victims of child sexual abuse of the criminal justice system’ in …
Accepted in Part
In progress
MACP-29 — Develop guidelines for handling victims and witnesses, especially in racist incidents.
Recommendation: That Police Services should together with the Home Office develop guidelines as to the handling of victims and witnesses, particularly in the field of racist incidents and crimes. The Victim's Charter to be reviewed in this context.
Unknown
MACP-31 — Ensure training and use of victim/witness liaison officers for racist incidents.
Recommendation: That Police Services ensure the provision of training and the availability of victim/witness liaison officers, and ensure their use in appropriate areas particularly in the field of racist incidents and crimes, where the need for a sensitive approach to young …
Unknown
MACP-35 — Consult and inform victims or families about any proposal to discontinue proceedings.
Recommendation: That the CPS ensure that a victim or victim's family shall be consulted and kept informed as to any proposal to discontinue proceedings.
Unknown
MACP-36 — CPS must personally notify victims and families of discontinuance decisions sensitively.
Recommendation: That the CPS should have the positive duty always to notify a victim and victim's family personally of a decision to discontinue, particularly in cases of racist crime, with speed and sensitivity.
Unknown
MACP-37 — Fully record and disclose prosecution discontinuance decisions to victims or families.
Recommendation: That the CPS ensure that all decisions to discontinue any prosecution should be carefully and fully recorded in writing, and that save in exceptional circumstances, such written decisions should be disclosable to a victim or a victim's family.
Unknown
MACP-41 — Allow victims or families to become "civil parties" in criminal proceedings.
Recommendation: That consideration should be given to the proposition that victims or victims' families should be allowed to become "civil parties" to criminal proceedings, to facilitate and to ensure the provision of all relevant information to victims or their families.
Unknown
MACP-44 — Police and Courts prevent intimidation of witnesses through bail conditions
Recommendation: That Police Services and the Courts seek to prevent the intimidation of victims and witnesses by imposing appropriate bail conditions.
Unknown
PFD Reports (2)
Robert Hardy
Concerns: Police failed to record an assault as a crime, preventing the provision of appropriate victim support and signposting for a vulnerable individual with known vulnerabilities.
Responded
Chelsie Greatorex
Concerns: The police investigation into a child sexual assault lacked specialist officer involvement, experienced significant delays, and provided insufficient support to the complainant.
Responded