Part 1

Victims of criminal conduct

Victims’ code

Revising the victims’ code
4
1
The Secretary of State may from time to time revise the victims’ code.
2
But the Secretary of State may revise the victims’ code only if satisfied that the proposed revisions would not result in—
a
a significant reduction in the quality or extent of the services provided in accordance with the code, or
b
a significant restriction in the description of persons to whom services are provided in accordance with the code.
3
The procedure in section 3 applies to a revision of the victims’ code, except that if the Secretary of State considers that all of the revisions are minor the procedure in subsection (5) may be used instead.
4
Revisions are minor if—
a
they make corrections or clarifications, or
b
they are consequential on changes to the law, practice or procedure relating to any aspect of the criminal justice system.
5
The procedure in this subsection is that the Secretary of State must—
a
consult the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and the Welsh Ministers about the proposed revisions,
b
lay a draft of the revised code before Parliament, and
c
when the draft revised code has been laid before Parliament, bring it into operation on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations.
S. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 81(2)