Skip to Content

Rights for Crime Victims to become Law.

The Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that, for the first time, victims of crime will be given legal rights; the new Laws will see that victims will be given updates about their case and have an opportunity, in most cases, to provide a statement on how the crime has impacted them.

The far reaching proposals will also see the setting up of an information service for victims of crime and will improve the way minors give evidence for a trial.

The Labour party will publish its own proposals shortly.

The present guidelines follow a victim's code that is followed by courts, the police and probation service. The new Laws will ensure that the measures are backed up by legislation that will be the subject of a bill in the next parliament.

Part of the consultation is the feasibility to compensate victims of crime earlier, at the moment this can take years.

The thorough overhaul of how victims are dealt with is overdue, with the proposed modernisation of courts to include a separate area for victims and defendants, just one of many steps to help with the trauma that many victims suffer, and improve the availability of support through one central support body.

Steps are being undertaken to change the way child witnesses are handled, with some horror stories about children being cross examined for days on end by multiple defence barristers becoming a thing of the past. The pilot scheme will allow children to give evidence in advance of the trial away from the court with the process being filmed to be used later during the trial.

The new bill, whilst largely welcomed, has been criticised as perhaps not going far enough, and could be seen by some as for political gain in announcing it before Labour's details for a victims law.

What happens will be down to the next government and we will detail Labour's proposals when available.

Image Description
related news
recent articles
Double Jeopardy Law

What is Double Jeopardy? and is it still Law in the UK?..

link

Finders Keepers | Finders Law

Finders Keepers | Finders Law
Ever since the phrase came into being in the early nineteenth century, documented as no halfers-findee, lossee seekee, which sou..

Children and the Law Leaving a child at home.

There is no age laid down by the law stating when your child is old enough to be left home alone; however, it is against the law to leave a child home alone if..

Domestic Violence Guide

Domestic violence is not just physical violence, it can take many forms, which a person may use to control a partner, if you are suffering domestic violence cal..

What is a Section 60 notice?

Over 2000 section 60 notices have been issued in London last year..

link

New Guidelines for online hate crimes.

New guidelines have been issued to crack down on online hate...

Wilful Neglect.

Social workers could face up to five years in jail should they prove guilty of wilful neglect towards children, if consultation decides to extend the law to inc..

Dogs and the Law.

Dogs and the Law.
Does your dog need a license, should it be chipped are you buying it from a reputable breeder and is it covered under the Dangerous Dogs Act?..

Stop and Search Laws to be changed?

Police Chiefs are calling for a change in the 'stop and search' l..

link

Finding a valuable item.

Finding a valuable item.
Every now and then someone finds a stash of coins or jewellery that is 100's of years old, may have been lost, buried as part of a ce..

Social media in the work place

Social media in the work place - Staff using social media in the work place can become a problem, productivity and performance can be affected by the time spent..

How to apply to become a British Citizen

British Citizen application| Process.
If you are looking to apply to become a British Citizen, we recommend that you contact a firm of solicitors that have exp..

Image Description
Is there anything wrong with this page? - any amendments will receive accreditation - email us

Solicitors.com are not a firm of solicitors, and any content on the site should not be used in substitute for obtaining Legal advice from a solicitor regulated in the UK, Solicitors.com recommends that you contact a firm of solicitors to discuss your individual legal requirement. Whilst we strive to bring you accurate up to date content, all content on this site is not legal advice and is not guaranteed to be correct. Use of this site does not create a client relationship.

Information by area of law
Back to top