Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Our statement on the Victim’s Bill

Government misses key opportunity to ensure the Victim’s Bill in a step change in the support for domestic abuse survivors

In a response to the Justice Select Committee’s recommendations for the upcoming Victim’s Bill, the Government has rejected several important recommendations which would have significantly strengthened it.

The Victim’s Bill will put the Victims Code on a statutory footing, enshrining victims’ rights to: 

  • Access specialist support services; 
  • Be informed about how the criminal justice process works; 
  • Have their voice heard, including through the right to meet the prosecutor where relevant; and 
  • Challenge decisions made about cases that impact them.  

Rebecca Goshawk, Head of Partnerships and Public Affairs said “We welcome that the Government will be amending the Victim’s Bill to make it clear that bereaved families and children conceived of rape are classed as victims. It is also positive to see that local bodies will have to take into account the needs of child victims of domestic abuse when assessing what services are required in their local areas.

“However, we are disappointed that the Ministry of Justice has not taken the opportunity to ensure that there is a step change in the support that domestic abuse and sexual violence victims receive, and a much-needed improvement to their experience of the justice system.

With over 70% of domestic abuse survivors being supported in the community and many local services already hugely stretched, this was an ideal opportunity for the Ministry of Justice to provide specific funding commitments for community based services and protected allocations for services run by and for Black and Minoritised women, Deaf and disabled women and LGBTQ+ survivors. 

“As the Justice Select Committee set out, we are worried that the Victims Bill risks raising victims’ awareness of their rights only to leave them unable to access them due to the relevant services who are already working at full capacity.”

“Migrant victims are so often failed by services and their immigration status can be used to further abuse. We are dismayed that the Government has rejected the Justice Select Committee’s recommendation to immediately end data sharing between the Home Office and the police and introduce a firewall for migrant victims to ensure they are able to get help.”

“We urge the Government to relook at the Bill to ensure that domestic abuse and sexual violence survivors in the community can access the support they need to build safe and independent lives.”

Share this story: