The Criminal Justice (Armed Forces Code of Practice for Victims of Crime) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into operation the Armed Forces Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (“the Code”) set out in the Schedule, making provision as to the services to be provided to a victim of criminal conduct by service providers within the Armed Forces justice system, so as to give effect to Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57-73).

The Code consists of six Parts. Part 1 provides an introduction, stating who is entitled to receive services under the Code and who is to provide those services. It also provides for interpretation and translation services to be made available for victims of crime where needed. Part 2 provides for certain categories of victims to receive enhanced services such as Special Measures. Further services for victims under the Code are set out in Part 3 for adults and Part 4 for persons under 18 years of age, while Part 5 sets out what service providers must do to ensure that those services are provided. Part 6 sets out definitions for the purposes of the Code.