BackParliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Dame Julie Mellor, DBE, highlights the poor awareness of the code that protects victims of crime as Ministry of Justice launches a consultation on changes. This lack of awareness of the Victims’ Code by people working in the criminal justice system is placing some victims of crime under extreme duress and leading to injustices. Investigations of complaints brought to the Ombudsman by victims of crime have uncovered a lack of awareness and understanding of the Code by those working in the criminal justice system.
Julie Mellor, Parliamentary Ombudsman, says: ‘Victims, including those who have been subjected to serious crime, such as sexual assault, have spoken to about how they have been left feeling powerless and shattered. Failures by agencies to recognise even the most basic rights of those victims under the Code, such as being told that the charges against the defendant have changed or that an appeal was taking place, have added to their distress and undermined their confidence in the criminal justice system. From customer enquiry teams to legal advisors, from court ushers to area directors, knowledge of the Code and of the standard of service victims have the right to expect is alarmingly thin on the ground. I am calling for the Ministry of Justice and all justice agencies to take a stronger lead in ensuring that, as the Code is finalised, staff are aware of their responsibilities. There may be plans to make certain that the Code is properly publicised and implemented, so that all staff understand and apply it. A Code that is not being followed is of little value.’
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (the Victims’ Code) places a statutory obligation on criminal justice agencies to provide a standard of service to victims of crime. The Code stipulates what each criminal justice agency must do for victims, and when they must do it by. The current Code has been revised by the Ministry of Justice and a public consultation on the proposed new Code was launched on Friday 29 March.
Since April 2006, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has had a statutory responsibility to consider complaints, referred by MPs, from those who have a complaint that an agency has not met its obligations under the Victims’ Code. Criminal justice agencies covered by the Code include: All police forces for police areas in England and Wales, the British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, the joint police/Crown Prosecution Service Witness Care Units, the Parole Board, the Prison Service, the Probation Service and Youth Offending Teams.
Source: Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
