PCC welcomes new Victim’s Code

The new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, comes into force today (December 3).

The Victims Code, published on 29 October 2013, forms a key part of the wider Government strategy to transform the criminal justice system by putting victims first, making the system more responsive and easier to navigate.

Tim Passmore said, “Victims should be central to all that we do and that is clear in my Police and Crime Plan.

“The way victims are treated is vital to building public trust and confidence.  Victims should always be treated in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any kind. They should receive appropriate support to help them, as far as possible, to cope and recover and be protected from re-victimisation. It is important that victims of crime know what information and support is available to them from reporting a crime onwards and who to request help from if they are not getting it.

“A considerable amount of work is being undertaken in Suffolk to help improve satisfaction levels of victims and I will continue to work with partners to enhance this work. The new code of practice will clearly direct this work.”

What the code does

The code sets out the services to be provided to victims of criminal conduct by criminal justice organisations in England and Wales. The code sets out a minimum standard for these services. Criminal justice organisations can choose to offer additional services and victims can choose to receive services tailored to their individual needs that fall below the minimum standard.

For the purposes of this code: a “victim” is a person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by criminal conduct; or a close relative of a person whose death was directly caused by criminal conduct.

The Code-of-Practice-for Victims-of-Crime is available to read in full.