Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 places the Victims' Code on a statutory footing, reforms the Parole Board, and strengthens support for victims of crime.
Who is affected: Victims of crime, prisoners subject to Parole Board review, and criminal justice agencies in England and Wales
What Changed
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 places key entitlements from the Victims' Code on a statutory footing, creating enforceable rights for victims to receive information, make personal statements, and access support services. It places a duty on criminal justice bodies to take all reasonable steps to comply with the Code. The Act reforms the Parole Board: it introduces a new power for the Secretary of State to refer a Parole Board release decision back for re-consideration where it is considered legally flawed, and increases victim access to oral hearings. It also introduces a new statutory regime for victims of major incidents (analogous to the Hillsborough provisions) and creates a new Victims' Commissioner role with strengthened statutory powers. Provisions for prisoners include a new presumption that IPP prisoners detained for more than three years post-tariff be considered for resentencing by the Court of Appeal.
What To Do
Victims of crime who are enrolled in the Victim Contact Scheme should be aware of their enhanced rights to make representations to the Parole Board and receive information about offender release. Criminal justice agencies (police, CPS, courts, probation) must review their processes to ensure compliance with the statutory Victims' Code. Solicitors acting for IPP prisoners should consider whether a resentencing application under the new provisions may be available.