New Budget 2024 and victims of crime
The 2024 UK Autumn Budget includes several initiatives that impact support for victims of crime, although no new direct funding boosts have been announced. However, the Ministry of Justice continues to implement significant improvements aimed at enhancing support and transparency for crime victims, as outlined in the recent Victims and Prisoners Bill.
The bill aims to strengthen victims’ rights by putting the principles of the Victims’ Code into law, ensuring victims have clear expectations of the justice system. It also places new requirements on local authorities, Police and Crime Commissioners, and healthcare boards to work together when commissioning services for victims of serious crimes such as domestic and sexual violence. This includes measures like statutory guidance for roles such as Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), who play a crucial role in victim support. This collaboration is intended to streamline service access and improve quality across regions, making it easier for victims to find consistent, well-informed support during their cases
Further, the bill mandates better transparency, such as compliance reviews with the Victims’ Code and requiring agencies to publicly report on how they are meeting these standards. These measures aim to hold criminal justice bodies accountable for supporting victims effectively and to offer stronger oversight to address any gaps
While no additional budget allocations for new victim support services were detailed, these legislative enhancements continue the government’s ongoing focus on providing victims with a more robust support framework.
Did you like this article? Why not reading “What’s the CICS? – A guide for Gen Z”.