OpenLegislation

Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

2024 c. 21 · Enacted 24 May 2024 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 15 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 17substitutedVictims and Courts Act 2026 s. 6
s. 11(4)(a)omittedVictims and Courts Act 2026 s. 10(2)(a)
s. 11(8A)insertedVictims and Courts Act 2026 s. 10(2)(b)
s. 11AinsertedVictims and Courts Act 2026 s. 10(3)
s. 68(2)omittedSentencing Act 2026 s. 26(6)(e)
s. 18coming into forceThe Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 12 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 reg. 2

An Act to make provision about victims of criminal conduct and others affected by criminal conduct; about the appointment and functions of advocates for victims of major incidents; for an infected blood compensation scheme; about the release of prisoners; about the membership and functions of the Parole Board; to prohibit certain prisoners from forming a marriage or civil partnership; and for connected purposes.

[24th May 2024]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Victims of criminal conduct
  2. Meaning of “victim”
  3. 1Meaning of “victim”
  4. Victims’ code
  5. 2The victims’ code
  6. 3Preparing and issuing the victims’ code Not yet in force
  7. 4Revising the victims’ code Not yet in force
  8. 5Code compliance
  9. 6Code awareness and reviewing compliance: criminal justice bodies Not yet in force
  10. 7Arrangements for collection of victims’ feedback Not yet in force
  11. 8Reviewing code compliance: elected local policing bodies Not yet in force
  12. 9Code awareness and reviewing compliance: British Transport Police Not yet in force
  13. 10Code awareness and reviewing compliance: Ministry of Defence Police Not yet in force
  14. 11Reviewing code compliance: Secretary of State and Attorney General Not yet in force
  15. 12Guidance on code awareness and reviewing compliance Not yet in force
  16. Collaboration in exercise of victim support functions Not yet in force
  17. 13Duty to collaborate in exercise of victim support functions Not yet in force
  18. 14Strategy for collaboration in exercise of victim support functions Not yet in force
  19. 15Guidance on collaboration in exercise of victim support functions Not yet in force
  20. Guidance about specified victim support roles
  21. 16Guidance about specified victim support roles
  22. Disclosures by victims that cannot be precluded by agreement
  23. 17Disclosures by victims that cannot be precluded by agreement
  24. Victims of domestic abuse
  25. 18Restricting parental responsibility where one parent kills the other Not yet in force
  26. 19Domestic abuse related death reviews
  27. 20Child victims of domestic abuse
  28. Victim impact statements to mental health tribunals (restricted patients)
  29. 21Victim impact statements to mental health tribunals (restricted patients)
  30. Victims’ Commissioner
  31. 22Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses
  32. Inspections by criminal justice inspectorates
  33. 23His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons
  34. 24His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary
  35. 25His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service
  36. 26His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales
  37. Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  38. 27Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  39. Information relating to victims
  40. 28Information relating to victims
  41. 29Information relating to victims: service police etc
  42. 30Review of provisions relating to counselling information requests
  43. 31Right to erasure of personal data in the UK
  44. Data protection Not yet in force
  45. 32Data protection Not yet in force
  46. Consequential provision Not yet in force
  47. 33Consequential provision Not yet in force
  48. Part 2: Victims of major incidents
  49. Meaning of “major incident” etc
  50. 34Meaning of “major incident” etc
  51. Appointment of advocates
  52. 35Appointment of standing advocate
  53. 36Appointment of advocates in respect of major incidents
  54. 37Terms of appointment
  55. 38Appointment of more than one advocate in respect of same major incident
  56. Functions and powers of advocates in respect of major incidents
  57. 39Functions of advocates appointed in respect of major incidents
  58. 40Role of advocates under Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
  59. Functions and powers of advocates: general
  60. 41Reports to the Secretary of State
  61. 42Publication of reports
  62. 43Information sharing and data protection
  63. Guidance for advocates
  64. 44Guidance for advocates
  65. Consequential amendments
  66. 45Consequential amendments
  67. Reviews
  68. 46Review of duty of candour in relation to major incidents Not yet in force
  69. 47Review of operation of Part 2
  70. Part 3: Infected blood compensation
  71. 48Infected Blood Compensation Authority
  72. 49Infected blood compensation scheme
  73. 50Payments
  74. 51Applications and procedure
  75. 52Reviews and appeals
  76. 53Information: infected blood compensation scheme
  77. 54Duty to co-operate with the IBCA
  78. 55Provision of support and assistance
  79. 56Payments to personal representatives of qualifying infected persons
  80. 57Information: payments to personal representatives
  81. Part 4: Prisoners
  82. Public protection decisions
  83. 58Public protection decisions: life prisoners
  84. 59Public protection decisions: fixed-term prisoners
  85. 60Amendment of power to change test for release on licence of certain prisoners
  86. Referral of release decisions
  87. 61Referral of release decisions: life prisoners
  88. 62Referral of release decisions: fixed-term prisoners
  89. Licence conditions on release following referral
  90. 63Licence conditions of life prisoners released following referral
  91. 64Licence conditions of fixed-term prisoners released following referral
  92. Assessing etc risks posed by controlling or coercive offenders
  93. 65Assessing etc risks posed by controlling or coercive offenders
  94. Imprisonment or detention for public protection
  95. 66Imprisonment or detention for public protection
  96. 67Imprisonment or detention for public protection: annual report
  97. Extension of home detention curfew
  98. 68Extension of home detention curfew
  99. Application of Convention rights Not yet in force
  100. 69Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998: life prisoners Not yet in force
  101. 70Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998: fixed-term prisoners Not yet in force
  102. 71Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998: power to change release test Not yet in force
  103. 72Application of certain Convention rights in prisoner release cases Not yet in force
  104. The Parole Board
  105. 73Parole Board rules
  106. 74Parole Board membership
  107. Whole life prisoners prohibited from forming a marriage or civil partnership
  108. 75Whole life prisoners prohibited from forming a marriage
  109. 76Whole life prisoners prohibited from forming a civil partnership
  110. Part 5: General
  111. 77Financial provision
  112. 78Power to make consequential provision
  113. 79Regulations
  114. 80Extent
  115. 81Commencement
  116. 82Short title
  117. Schedule 1: Infected Blood Compensation Authority
  118. Part 1: Constitution
  119. 1Membership
  120. 2Appointment of non-executive members
  121. 3Appointment of executive members
  122. 4Appointments of members: eligibility
  123. 5Terms of membership
  124. 6Non-executive members: payments
  125. 7Staffing
  126. 8Interim chief executive
  127. 9Committees and sub-committees
  128. 10Procedure
  129. 11Exercise of functions
  130. 12Funding
  131. 13Annual report
  132. 14Accounts and audit
  133. 15Meaning of “financial year”
  134. 16Provision of information
  135. 17Status
  136. 18Seal and evidence
  137. 19Supplementary powers
  138. Part 2: Transfer schemes
  139. 20Power to make transfer schemes
  140. 21Tax treatment of transfer schemes
  141. Part 3: Amendments
  142. 22Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  143. 23Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (c. 67)
  144. 24Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  145. 25House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  146. 26Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  147. 27Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  148. 28Equality Act 2010 (c. 15)
  149. Schedule 2Offences relevant to public protection decisions