The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (Victims’ Code of Practice) Order 2015

Statutory Instruments

2015 No. 1817

Criminal Law, England And Wales

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (Victims’ Code of Practice) Order 2015

Made

22nd October 2015

Laid before Parliament

23rd October 2015

Coming into force

16th November 2015

The Secretary of State for Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 33(7) and (8) of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (“the Act”)(1), makes the following Order.

In accordance with sections 32 and 33 of the Act, the Secretary of State brought into operation on 10th December 2013 a code of practice as to the services to be provided to a victim of criminal conduct by persons appearing to him to have functions relating to victims of criminal conduct or any aspect of the criminal justice system. Under section 33(8) of the Act, the Secretary of State for Justice may from time to time revise a code previously brought into operation.

In accordance with section 33(2) to (4) of the Act, in preparing a draft of the revised code, the Secretary of State for Justice consulted the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for the Home Department and after doing so published it.

In accordance with section 33(5) of the Act, in considering representations made to him about the draft, the Secretary of State for Justice consulted the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for the Home Department and modified it in the light of them.

In accordance with section 33(9) of the Act, it appears to the Secretary of State for Justice that the proposed revisions would not result in a significant reduction in the quality or extent of the services to be provided under the code, or a significant restriction in the description of persons to whom services are to be provided under the code.

In accordance with section 33(6) of the Act, the Secretary of State laid the code of practice before Parliament on 22nd October 2015.

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (Victims’ Code of Practice) Order 2015 and comes into force on 16th November 2015.

Date on which the code of practice comes into operation

2.  The revised code of practice entitled “Code of Practice for Victims of Crime” laid before Parliament on 22nd October 2015 comes into operation on 16th November 2015.

Mike Penning

Minister of State

Ministry of Justice

22nd October 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into operation the revised code of practice entitled “Code of Practice for Victims of Crime” on 16th November 2015. The revised code of practice replaces the code of practice that was brought into operation on 10th December 2013 by S.I. 2013/2907 and implements parts of Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57–73).

Online copies of the revised code of practice can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/revising-the-victims-code and hard copies can be obtained by emailing [e-mail], or writing to the following address:

Post Point 4.21

Ministry of Justice

102 Petty France

London

SW1H 9AJ

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of the public sector was produced with the Government’s response to consultation, “Revising the Victims’ Code” and is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/revising-the-victims-code.

(1)

Sections 32 and 33 were amended by S.I. 2007/2128.