CHAPTER 4

PROTECTION OF VICTIMS AND RECOGNITION OF VICTIMS WITH SPECIFIC PROTECTION NEEDS

Right to protection of victims during criminal investigations
Article 20
Without prejudice to the rights of the defence and in accordance with rules of judicial discretion, Member States shall ensure that during criminal investigations:
1. interviews of victims are conducted without unjustified delay after the complaint with regard to a criminal offence has been made to the competent authority;
2. the number of interviews of victims is kept to a minimum and interviews are carried out only where strictly necessary for the purposes of the criminal investigation;
3. victims may be accompanied by their legal representative and a person of their choice, unless a reasoned decision has been made to the contrary;
4. medical examinations are kept to a minimum and are carried out only where strictly necessary for the purposes of the criminal proceedings.