You have the right to:

• be kept informed about the progress of your case by the police
• hear when a suspect is arrested, charged, bailed or sentenced
• apply for extra help when giving evidence in court (called ‘special measures’) if you are vulnerable, intimidated, or a child or young person
• apply for compensation 
• make a Victim Personal Statement to explain the impact of the crime, and to have it read out in court, with the permission of the court
• be told when an offender will be released, if that offender has been sentenced to a year or more in prison for a violent or sexual offence
• information about taking part in restorative justice schemes
• be referred to victims’ support services
• seek a review of a decision not to prosecute.

The Victims’ Code has been revised three times since it was first introduced in 2006.

The Code was most recently updated in April 2021.

The Code was previously revised in October 2015, bringing in new measures to comply with the European Union Victims’ Directive, which came into force in November 2015.

If you’re a victim of crime and you feel that your rights under the Code have not been met then you can complain directly to the criminal justice agency concerned, such as your local police force or the Crown Prosecution Service.

If you have done so and are still dissatisfied then you can take your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, who is responsible for considering complaints relating to the Victims’ Code. You must first contact your MP and ask them to refer your complaint to the Ombudsman as they will not consider cases directly from a member of the public. Find your local MP.