Victims and Courts Bill 2024-26

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.

Government Bill

(Ministry of Justice)

What is this Bill?

The Victims and Courts Bill is a Government Bill tabled by a Minister of the Crown.

Is this Bill currently before Parliament?

Yes. This Bill was introduced on 07 May 2025 and is currently before Parliament.

Whose idea is this Bill?

Government Bills implement the legislative agenda of the Government. This agenda, and the Bills that will implement it, are outlined in the Queen's Speech at the Session's State Opening of Parliament.

What type of Bill is this?

Government Bills are technically Presentation Bills, but the Government can use its legislative time to ensure the schedule of debates to scrutinise the Bill.

So is this going to become a law?

Though the Bill can be amended from its original form, the Bill will almost certainly be enacted in law before the end of the Session, or will be carried over to the subsequent Session.

How can I find out exactly what this Bill does?

The most straightforward information is contained in the initial Explanatory Notes for the Bill.

Would you like to know more?

See these Glossary articles for more information: Government Bills, Process of a Bill

Official Bill Page Initial Explanatory Notes Initial Briefing papers Ministerial Extracts from Debates All Bill Debates

Next Event: There is no future stage currently scheduled for this bill

Last Event: Tuesday 24th June 2025 - Committee stage: 5th sitting (Commons)

Bill Progession through Parliament

Commons - 60%

Latest Key documents

Bill Debate

24/06/2025

Committee stage

Bill

25/06/2025

Bill 271 2024-25 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)

Briefing paper

16/05/2025

Victims and Courts Bill 2024-2025

Explanatory Note

07/05/2025

Bill 233 EN 2024-25

Impact Assessment

07/05/2025

Victims Measures Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Justice

Timeline of Bill Documents and Stages

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 11 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 10 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 9 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 8 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 4 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 2 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 1 July 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 30 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 27 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 26 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 25 June 2025

Bill 271 2024-25 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)

24th June 2025

Committee stage: 5th sitting (Commons)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by the Centre for Women's Justice, Advance, Agenda Alliance, Hibiscus Initiatives, Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies, Women's Aid, Dame Vera Baird KC, Professor Vanessa Bettinson, Northumbria University, and Professor Nicola Wake, Northumbria University (joint submission) (VCB13)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales (supplementary) (VCB14)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Catch22 (VCB15)

Amendment Paper

Public Bill Amendments as at 24 June 2025

Bill proceedings: Commons

All proceedings up to 24 June 2025 at Public Bill Committee Stage

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner (supplementary) (VCB12)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) (supplementary) (VCB11)

Selection of amendments: Commons

Chair’s provisional selection and grouping of amendments in Committee - 24 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 23 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 20 June 2025

19th June 2025

Committee stage: 4th sitting (Commons)

19th June 2025

Committee stage: 3rd sitting (Commons)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Edmonds Marshall McMahon (VCB05)

Selection of amendments: Commons

Chair’s selection and grouping of amendments in Committee - 19th June 2025

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Help for Heroes (VCB06)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, University of Manchester and SHERA Research Group (VCB08)

Amendment Paper

Public Bill Amendments as at 19 June 2025

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Bob Browell, Counter Fraud Manager, Finance and Operations Directorate, Macmillan Cancer Support (VCB10)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Action for Children, Barnardo's, The centre of expertise on child sexual abuse, NSPCC, and Women's Aid (joint submission) (VCB09)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by SUDEP Action (VCB07)

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 18 June 2025

17th June 2025

Committee stage: 2nd sitting (Commons)

17th June 2025

Committee stage: 1st sitting (Commons)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) (VCB02)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Prison Reform Trust (VCB04)

Amendment Paper

Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) (VCB03)

Written evidence

Written evidence submitted by Kathleen Dunmore and Jason Webb (VCB01)

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 16 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025

Amendment Paper

Notices of Amendments as at 4 June 2025

Victims and Courts Bill: call for evidence

20th May 2025

2nd reading2nd Reading (Commons)

20th May 2025

Programme motion

20th May 2025

Money resolution

Briefing papers

Victims and Courts Bill 2024-2025

7th May 2025

1st reading (Commons)

Impact Assessments

Overarching Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Justice

Explanatory Notes

Bill 233 EN 2024-25

Human rights memorandum

Human Rights Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice

Delegated Powers Memorandum

Delegated Powers Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice

Impact Assessments

Courts Measures Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Justice

Impact Assessments

Victims Measures Impact Assessment from the Ministry of Justice

Bill 233 2024-25 (as introduced) - xml download

Bill 233 2024-25 (as introduced)