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Your rights
You have the right to contact the police and be kept informed about the investigation if you’re:
the victim of a crime
a close relative of someone who died because of a crime - for example their partner, child or sibling
You have different rights if you’re the victim of a crime in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
When you report the crime
The police must give you:
written confirmation of the crime you’ve reported
a crime reference number
contact details for the police officer dealing with your case
They must also:
tell you clearly what will happen next
tell you how often they’ll give you an update on their investigation
carry out a ‘needs assessment’ to find out what support you should get
ask a victim support organisation to contact you within 2 days
They must also ask if you want to write a statement about how the crime has affected you. This is called a ‘victim personal statement’. It can be used later when the court is deciding on a punishment.
During the police investigation
The police must give you updates on their investigation, and tell you within 5 days when a suspect is:
arrested or charged
set free or released on bail
given a caution, reprimand, final warning, or penalty notice
When the police have finished their investigation, they can pass the information to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who then decide if there’s enough evidence to take the case to court. If the police or the CPS decide to drop the charge, they must tell you within 5 days. You can ask for a review if you disagree with their decision. Privacy The police might give some information about the crime to the media to help with the investigation. They’ll normally ask your permission before they do this. If you’ve been the victim of a sexual assault or rape, it’s against the law for anyone to publish your name, photo or anything else that could identify you.
If the case goes to court
Your local Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must tell you immediately where and when the trial will be.
If you’re asked to give evidence, the police will pass your details to a Witness Care Officer who will support you before and during the trial.
If the defendant is found guilty, you may be able to read your victim personal statement to them.
After the trial ends, your Witness Care Officer must tell you:
the verdict - within 24 hours
what sentence the offender gets - if they’re found guilty
if the offender appeals their conviction or sentence
You can also:
claim compensation - if the crime was violent
get free help and advice from the Victims’ Information Service or Victim Contact Scheme
meet the offender (‘restorative justice’) - contact your local victim support organisation to arrange this
If the crime was serious or you're vulnerable
You may get extra support if you:
are the victim of a serious crime
are under 18
have a mental health condition or lack mental capacity
have a disability
are a close relative of someone who died because of a crime - for example their partner, child or sibling
have been a victim of crime repeatedly - for example you’re being targeted, harassed or stalked
Serious crimes
You’re the victim of a serious crime if it was:
arson with intent to endanger life
attempted murder
domestic abuse
kidnapping or false imprisonment
a hate crime
human trafficking
a sexual offence
terrorism
wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent
What support you’ll get
You’re entitled to:
get information quicker - usually within 24 hours
protection in court if you need to give evidence
specialist help and advice
a Family Liaison Officer - if you’re a close relative of the victim
Contact the police officer dealing with your case or your local Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about getting this extra help.
Make a complaint
You can complain if you’ve been:
treated unprofessionally, disrespectfully or insensitively
discriminated against
The Victim’s Code has full details of how the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and other organisations should treat you if you’re the victim of crime.
Make your complaint to the organisation you want to complain about. For example:
The organisation must confirm they’ve received your complaint within 10 days. If you do not agree with the decision You can complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman if you do not agree with the decision about your complaint.
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