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Victims and Courts Act 2026

2026 c. 19 · Enacted 29 April 2026 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 13 August 2026.

An Act to make provision about the experience of victims within the criminal justice system; about the functions of the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses; and about procedure and the administration of criminal justice.

[29th April 2026]

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. Attendance at sentencing hearings Not yet in force
  2. 1Power to compel attendance at sentencing hearing Not yet in force
  3. 2Power to compel attendance at sentencing hearing: armed forces Not yet in force
  4. Restricting parental responsibility Not yet in force
  5. 3Restricting parental responsibility of certain sex offenders Not yet in force
  6. 4Restricting parental responsibility for child conceived as a result of rape Not yet in force
  7. 5Sections 3 and 4: consequential amendments Not yet in force
  8. Victims’ rights
  9. 6Victims’ rights to make disclosures relating to criminal conduct Not yet in force
  10. 7Victims’ rights to make representations and receive information etc
  11. Victims’ Commissioner Not yet in force
  12. 8Commissioner’s power to act in individual cases relevant to public policy Not yet in force
  13. 9Duty to co-operate with Commissioner: anti-social behaviour Not yet in force
  14. 10Duty of Commissioner to report on compliance with victims’ code Not yet in force
  15. Prosecutions
  16. 11Appointment of Crown Prosecutors
  17. 12Private prosecutions: regulations about costs payable out of central funds
  18. Sentencing reviews etc
  19. 13Reviews of sentencing: time limits
  20. 14Reviews of sentencing: duty to notify victims
  21. 15Terms of imprisonment for certain offences on summary conviction
  22. Final provisions
  23. 16Power to make consequential provision
  24. 17Extent
  25. 18Commencement and transitional provision
  26. 19Short title
  27. Schedule 1: Restriction of parental responsibility: serious sexual offences Not yet in force
  28. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  29. Schedule 2: Victims’ rights to make representations and receive information etc
  30. Part 1: Representations and information
  31. 1Introduction
  32. 2Introduction
  33. 3Imprisonment or detention Not yet in force
  34. 4Hospital orders Not yet in force
  35. 5Hospital orders Not yet in force
  36. 6Hospital orders Not yet in force
  37. 7Hospital orders Not yet in force
  38. 8Hospital orders Not yet in force
  39. 9Hospital orders Not yet in force
  40. 10Hospital orders Not yet in force
  41. 11Hospital orders Not yet in force
  42. 12Hospital directions Not yet in force
  43. 13Hospital directions Not yet in force
  44. 14Hospital directions Not yet in force
  45. 15Hospital directions Not yet in force
  46. 16Transfer directions Not yet in force
  47. 17Transfer directions Not yet in force
  48. 18Transfer directions Not yet in force
  49. 19Transfer directions Not yet in force
  50. 20Transfer directions Not yet in force
  51. 21Transfer directions Not yet in force
  52. 22Transfer directions Not yet in force
  53. Part 2: Information
  54. 23Introduction
  55. 24Victims’ rights to receive information
  56. 25Victims’ rights to receive information
  57. Part 3: Representations and information: offences Not yet in force
  58. 26Offences Not yet in force
  59. Part 4: Consequential and other provision
  60. 27Introduction
  61. 28Consequential provision etc
  62. 29Consequential provision etc
  63. 30Consequential provision etc
  64. 31Consequential provision etc
  65. 32Consequential provision etc
  66. 33Consequential provision etc
  67. 34Consequential provision etc