§ 32. Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to give increased rights to the victims of crime. [61122]
§ Mr. BoatengWe believe that the needs of victims and witnesses should be at the heart of the criminal justice system. We shall be introducing in the current parliamentary session the Youth Sentencing and Witnesses Bill, which will give increased rights to victims of crime. Other measures in the Bill, while not conferring rights on victims as such, will nonetheless make a further significant contribution towards improving the position of victims.
34. Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given by his Department to the police about the need to inform the victims of crime about the outcome of their case. [61124]
§ Mr. BoatengUnder the Victim's Charter the police have a responsibility for informing victims if someone has been caught, cautioned or charged: victims who want to receive further information should additionally be told of any decision to drop or alter the charges substantially, the date of any trial and the final result. Most police forces have now established arrangements for keeping victims informed of more significant developments in their case, though practice varies across the country. Ways in which this Charter standard might be achieved more readily and more consistently have been the subject of pilot studies over the past two years. An interim evaluation report has just been published—a copy has been lodged in the Library—and the final evaluation should be available next Spring. Our intention is then to issue good practice guidelines to all police forces.