A Bill 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.
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Page 1
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Attendance at sentencing hearings
Attendance at sentencing hearings
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Clause 1 inserts new sections 41A and 41B into a new Chapter 2A within Part 3 of the Sentencing Code (Procedure). New section 41A makes provision for a judge of the Crown Court to order an offender to attend their sentencing hearing and states that any offender commits a contempt of court if, when the court has made such an order, they fail without reasonable excuse to attend.
New subsection (1)(a)(b) and (c) of section 41A set out the conditions under which the order can be made. These are that an offender has been convicted of an offence; the offender is to be detained in custody while awaiting sentencing in the Crown Court; and the offender has refused to attend their sentencing hearing or there are reasonable grounds to suspect that he or she will refuse.
New subsection (2) states that the Crown Court may make such an order if the conditions of subsection (1) are satisfied.
New subsection (3) states that an order under subsection (2) may be made by the court of its own motion or following an application by the prosecuting authority.
New subsection (4) prohibits the court from making such an order in relation to an offender under the age of 18 without having first consulted the relevant youth offending team.
New subsection (5) clarifies that a relevant officer may use reasonable force to give effect to an order made under subsection (2) and deliver an offender aged 18 or over to the courtroom.
New subsection (6) states that an offender's failure to comply with an order made under subsection (2) without reasonable excuse is a criminal contempt of court.
New subsection (7) defines the meaning of the terms, “relevant officer”, “relevant youth offending team” and “sentencing hearing” as they apply to this provision. “Relevant officer” means a prison officer, an officer of a young offender institution or a prisoner custody officer (within the meaning of section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991). “Relevant youth offending team” means the youth offending team established under section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 that is providing support to the offender while he or she is awaiting sentence. “Sentencing hearing” means a hearing for the purposes of sentencing the offender following conviction.
New subsection (8) clarifies, for the avoidance of doubt, that this provision does not limit any other power available to the court to order the attendance of an offender for their sentencing hearing, any part of the law of contempt or any other power of a relevant officer to use force.
New section 41B makes provision for and explains the meaning of a "prison sanctions order".
New subsection (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) sets out the conditions needed to be met before a court can consider making a “prison sanctions order”. These conditions are that an order under section 41A has been made, the offender has committed a contempt by breaching an order made under section 41A as mentioned in section 41A(6), or has committed a contempt by interrupting or otherwise misbehaving in the hearing and been removed from the hearing because of such conduct; the offender is aged 18 or over at the time at which the contempt is committed; and the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment or detention for either the offence being sentenced or committed for the contempt.
New subsection (2) confirms the power to impose prison sanctions may be used instead of or in addition to any other power available to the court in dealing with the contempt matter.
New subsection (3)(a) and (b) sets out the parameters for imposing a prison sanctions order on a person aged between 18 and 20.An order can be made in relation to an offender who is aged 18 or over who is taken to a prison or young offenders institution provided exclusively as a place of detention for persons aged 18-20 after the order is made.
New subsection (4)(a) and (b) defines the meaning of a "prison sanctions order” as an order imposing one or more of the sanctions as described by regulations made by the Secretary of State and in so doing provides the power to make those regulations. It also requires the court to specify a period not exceeding the maximum period as defined by those regulations.
New subsection (5) limits the sanctions that may be specified in regulations to those which correspond with punishments available under prison rules for an offence against discipline. This means that existing punishments in the prison rules will provide a list from which punishments can be selected for the purposes of these regulations. Not all existing punishments will be appropriate for use in this context.
New subsection (6) states that the regulations must specify a maximum period for which a sanction may apply, only if the corresponding punishment in the prison rules has a maximum period.
New subsection (7) states that the maximum period set by regulations must not exceed the corresponding maximum period for that sanction as set out in the prison rules.
New subsection (8) states that the regulations may make further provision as to the effect of a sanction imposed by a prison sanctions order.
New subsection (9) (a) and (b) sets out that in particular, the regulations made by subsection (8) may create exceptions or confer a discretion on the governor of a prison as to the effect of a sanction being imposed by a prison sanctions order. It is intended that this will be used to permit the governor to override the order in certain circumstances, for example, where it is considered necessary for health, safety and operational reasons.
New subsection (10) confirms that regulations made under this section are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
New subsection (11) defines the meaning of "governor" in relation to a prison or youth offender institution, includes a director of the prison or institution, the meaning of "prison" as having the same meaning as in the Prison Act 1952 and the meaning of “prison rules” as being the same as under section 47 of the Prison Act 1952.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Chapter 2A
Chapter 2A
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Attendance at sentencing hearings
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Power to order offender to attend
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Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Attendance orders: prison sanctions for contempt
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Clause 2 makes equivalent provision for the service justice system by inserting new section 259A into the Armed Forces Act 2006.
New section 259A enables the Court Martial or Service Civilian Court to order an individual to attend their sentencing hearing by creating an express statutory power to make an attendance order. Any individual who refuses to attend, without reasonable excuse, will commit a contempt of court under section 309 of the Armed Forces Act 2006. They may therefore be punished by the Court Martial or Service Civilian Court through a fine or a committal to Service Custody. Where an adult is sentenced to imprisonment or detention, a prison sanctions order may be imposed in respect of a contempt of court. Alternatively the court may, as now, certify a civil court to inquire into the contempt of court under section 311 of the Armed Forces Act 2006. New section 259A also makes it clear that a person subject to service law who is authorised by the Provost Marshal for the Royal Military Police may use reasonable force if necessary and proportionate to produce an adult to court for their sentencing hearing.
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Attendance at sentencing hearings
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Power to order attendance
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Restricting parental responsibility
Restricting parental responsibility
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Clause 3 amends the CA1989 to expand the offences where the Crown Court must make a prohibited steps order to include where a person is convicted of a serious child sexual abuse offence against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility and has been sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence of four or more years. The prohibited steps order, which is an order under section 8 of the CA 1989, must be made in respect of every child for whom the offender holds parental responsibility.
Subsection 1 makes provision for the Bill to insert new sections 10C and 10D into the CA1989.
New section 10C in the CA 1989 covers the requirement for the Crown Court to make a prohibited steps order: a. New subsection (1) of 10C clarifies the section applies when the Crown Court sentences an offender to a life sentence, or a term of four or more years imprisonment or detention for a serious sexual offence committed against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility. b. New subsection (2) states that the Crown Court must make a prohibited steps order for each child for whom the offender holds parental responsibility when sentencing the offender. c. New subsection (3) provides that the prohibited steps order must restrict the exercise of parental responsibility to prevent the offender taking any step in exercise of their parental responsibility without the consent of the High Court or family court and that the order remain in effect unless it is varied or discharged by the High Court or family court. d. New subsection (4) outlines the circumstances in which the Crown Court must not make a prohibited steps order. An order must not be made if there is a placement order in force such that the making of a prohibited steps order is prohibited by section 29(3) Adoption and Children Act 2002, or where such an order is not needed because a prohibited steps order is already in place that provides that no steps could be taken in exercise of a parent's parental responsibility or where it would not be in the interests of justice for the prohibited steps order to be made. e. New subsection (5) provides that the prohibited steps order will not automatically end where the offender is acquitted on appeal or receives a reduction in sentence so that it no longer meets the threshold in subsection (1). f. New subsection (6) makes clear that where the Crown Court is undertaking the duty placed on it by section 10C and in the context of the Crown Court's discretion in subsection (5), it should not apply the following sections of the CA1989: i. Section 1, which covers the elements the court must include in its consideration of a child's welfare which must be the courts paramount consideration. ii. Section 7, which gives the court the power to commission the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), Cafcass Cymru or local authority social workers to deliver reports on the child's welfare. iii. Section 11, which covers a series of general provisions relating to s.8 orders, including provisions relating to timetabling and the content of the orders. g. New subsection (7) provides that the prohibited steps order made by the Crown Court is to be treated as an order of the family court for the purposes of section 31F(6) of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (which gives the family court the power to vary, suspend, rescind or revive any order of the family court). h. New subsection (8) provides that the Crown Court cannot hear applications for the enforcement of the prohibited steps order made under new Section 10C (these will be heard by the family court). i. New subsection (9) provides that where context permits, any reference in CA 89 to an order made under Section 10C also includes an order varying or discharging such an order. j. New subsection (10) provides definitions of terms used within Section 10C: i. A "life sentence" is where an offender is sentenced to imprisonment, detention or custody for life, or during His Majesty's Pleasure. ii. A "serious sexual offence" includes any offence listed within schedule ZA1. k. New subsection (11) provides the Secretary of State with a power to amend the list of offences in Schedule ZA1 by regulations.
New section 10D confirms details of a new duty that will be placed on the local authority: a. New subsection (1) confirms that section 10D applies when an individual subject to a prohibited steps order made under section 10C is either acquitted of the offence on appeal or has their sentence reduced on appeal, so their term of imprisonment is no longer 4 years or more. b. New subsection (2) confirms that when subsection (1) is met, the relevant local authority must make an application to the Family Court to review the prohibited steps order. The court is defined as in section 92(7) CA1989 as the High Court or the family court. When both the family court and the High Court have jurisdiction to deal with a matter, the general rule is that proceedings must be started in the family court. This is outlined in Rule 5.4 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010. c. New subsection (3) provides that an application to the family court must be made by the relevant local authority as soon as reasonably practicable, and it must be made within 30 days after the day after the day the verdict of acquittal was entered or the sentence was reduced. d. Subsection (4) provides the Secretary of State the power to amend by regulations the 30-day period specified in subsection (3). e. New subsection (5) defines "life sentence ” as the same as subsection (9) of section 10C (as per paragraph 149j of this document). This subsection defines the 'relevant local authority' as the local authority within whose area the child(ren) involved are ordinarily resident or the local authority within whose area the child(ren) is present. If there is no local authority which fits this description, no duty arises. Nothing in this subsection affects the law applicable to whether the court has jurisdiction to make any orders as a result of the review.
Subsection (2) of Clause 3 provides that a schedule is inserted into the CA1989 setting out the serious sexual offences that are included within the provisions of this measure.
The provisions in Clause 3 will come into force by regulations made on a day appointed by the Secretary of State.
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Duty to make prohibited steps order where serious sexual offence committed
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Review of orders made under section 10C
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Clause 4 makes amendments to the CA1989 to reflect the changes provided by Clause 3. a. Subsection (1) provides the power to amend the CA1989 in respect of subsections (2) to (6) of Clause 3. b. Subsection (2) amends the following subsections of section 9 of the CA1989 to remove certain restriction on making a prohibited steps order namely: i. Subsection (1) is amended to ensure a prohibited steps order can be made for a child in the care of a local authority under new section 10C. c. Subsection (3) makes amendments to section 10A of the CA1989 (which was inserted by section 18 of the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024) i. The heading of section 10A is amended to “the duty to make a prohibited steps order where one parent kills another". ii. New subsection 10 is inserted to provide that where permitted, any reference in CA89 to an order made under Section 10A also includes an order varying or discharging such an order. d. Subsection (4) amends section 33(3A) of the CA1989 so that when a local authority has the power to decide how an offender can use their parental responsibility, the local authority may only use this power in order to stop them from taking steps that are not already prohibited by the prohibited steps order made under new section 10C. e. Subsection (5) amends section 91(2) of the CA1989 to provide that if a care order is made after the making of a prohibited steps order under new section 10C, that order made under new section 10C will not be discharged as would be the case for other section 8 orders. f. Subsection (6) amends the provisions in the CA1989 in relation to the powers to make regulations under the Act consequential on the new sections 10C(11) or 10D(4) . g. Subsection (7) provides that a prohibited steps order made by the Crown Court under section 10C does not fall within the definition of a “sentence" for the purposes of section 50 of the Criminal Appeals Act 1968 and cannot therefore be appealed by the offender through the Crown Court. The question of whether the prohibited steps order should remain in place, be varied or discharged will be considered by the family court. This could be via the usual process when applying to the family court to vary or discharge a prohibited steps order, or as a result of an application being made by the local authority under the duty placed on them in new section 10D(2) СА 1989. h. Subsection (8) amends section 379 of the Sentencing Act 2020 to include a signpost to the circumstances that the Crown Court may be required to make a prohibited steps order when dealing with an offender under new sections 10A and 10C of the CA1989.
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Victims ’ rights
Victims’ rights
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Schedule 2 makes provision about the rights of victims of certain offences to make representations and receive information about offenders.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Victims ’ Commissioner
Victims’ Commissioner
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Clause 6 makes the following amendments to Section 51 the DVCVA.
Subsection (1) sets out that section 51 of DVCVA will be amended.
Subsection (2) moves the existing text at section 51 of DVCVA to become subsection (1) of that section.
Subsection (3) inserts an exception to the legislative bar preventing the Commissioner from exercising their functions in relation to particular victims and witnesses.
Subsection (4) details that exception as allowing the Commissioner to exercise their functions in relation to case of a particular victim or witness where the Commissioner considers that: a. the case raises issues of public policy of relevance to other victims or witnesses; and b. the exercise of one of more of their functions in relation to the case is likely to promote the interests of other victims or witnesses in relation to those issues of public policy.
Subsection (5) gives the Commissioner the ability to exercise their functions in this way in relation to a victim or witness, regardless of when the conduct in relation to which the person is a victim or witness occurred (including if it occurred before clause 6 is commenced).
Subsection (6) gives “victim” and “witness” the same meaning given by section 52 of the DVCVA.
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Clause 7 makes the following amendments to the DVCVA.
Subsection (1) sets out that the DVCVA will be amended.
Subsection (2) inserts a new section 51B into the DVCVA. Subsection (1) of the new section 51B provides that the Victims' Commissioner may request a local authority or relevant provider of social housing to co-operate with the Commissioner in any way that the Commissioner considers necessary for the purposes of the Commissioner's functions, so far as those functions are exercisable in respect of victims and witnesses of antisocial behaviour.
Subsection (2) of the new section 51B provides that the Commissioner may make such a request to a relevant provider of social housing only in respect of matters that relate to social housing.
Subsection (3) of the new section 51B outlines that the local authority or relevant provider of social housing must comply with a request made to it under section 51B, so far as it is appropriate and reasonably practicable for the authority or the provider to do so.
Subsection (4) of the new section 51B sets out the meaning of “local authority": a. (a) in relation to England, local authority means - (i) a district council; (ii) a county council; (iii) a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; (iv) a combined county authority established under section 9 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; (v) a London borough council; (vi) the Common Council of the City of London; (vii) the Council of the Isles of Scilly; b. (b) in relation to Wales, local authority means a county council or a county borough council.
Subsection (4) of the new section 51B also sets out that "relevant provider of social housing" means a private registered provider of social housing or a body registered as a social landlord under section 3 of the Housing Act 1996; and that "social housing" has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.
Subsection (3) amends section 51A of the DVCVA to insert ": victims' code services" in the heading of that section.
Subsection (4) amends subsection (1) of section 52 of the DVCVA by substituting "51" for "51B".
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Duty to co-operate with Commissioner: anti-social behaviour
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Clause 8 makes the following amendments to the 2024 Act.
Subsection (1) sets out that the 2024 Act will be amended.
Subsection (2)(a) removes the requirement contained in section 11(4)(a) of the 2024 Act for the Secretary of State (in practice the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary) and the Attorney General to consult the Commissioner on their Code compliance report, published under section 11(1)(b) of the 2024 Act.
Subsection (2)(b) inserts a requirement for the Secretary of State (in practice the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary) and the Attorney General to have regard to the Commissioner's Code compliance report for a period when preparing their own report for that period, pursuant to section 11(1)(b) of the 2024 Act.
Subsection (3) amends the 2024 Act to insert a new section 11A into the 2024 Act. Subsection (1) of the new section 11A requires the Commissioner to make a report to the Secretary of State (in practice the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary) and the Attorney General on the Code compliance of the persons mentioned in section 11(6) of the 2024 Act. This must cover each period in relation to which the Secretary of State and the Attorney General are required to prepare and publish a report under section 11(1)(b) of the 2024 Act.
Subsection (2) of the new section 11A requires the Commissioner to publish their report.
Subsection (3) of the new section 11A makes clear that Section 49A of the DVCVA (duty to respond to Commissioner's recommendations) applies to the Commissioner's Code compliance report, when containing recommendations to an authority within the Commissioner's remit, as it does to recommendations contained in the Commissioner's other reports (produced pursuant to section 49(2)(b) or (4) of the DVCVA).
Subsection (4) of the new section 11A makes clear that section 53 of the DVCVA applies to new section 11A as they apply to Part 3 of the DVCVA, with the effect that “those authorities within the Commissioner's remit" in section 11A(3) means those authorities listed in Schedule 9 to the DVCVA.
Subsection (5) of the new section 11A set out that, for the purposes of section 11A, "code compliance" of a person is whether and how the services provided by the person in the relevant area are provided in accordance with the duty in section 5(1) of the 2024 Act.
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Reviewing code compliance: Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses
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Prosecutions
Prosecutions
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
The first subsection removes the requirement in section 1(3) of the Prosecution of Offences Act (POA) 1985 that a CP must hold a "general qualification" as defined in section 71(3)(c) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.
Under the current law, individuals designated as CPs by the DPP must have rights of audience in all Senior Courts or all proceedings in county or magistrates' courts. This has hindered some qualified legal professionals, including Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) practitioners, from becoming CPs. This amendment removes the existing restriction around the need to hold the “general qualification” (which, in practice, means that individuals designated as CPs by the DPP) must have rights of audience in all Senior Courts or all proceedings in county or magistrates' courts). This change will allow the DPP to have greater flexibility to consider more qualified legal professionals, including CILEX practitioners, for CP roles.
This change increases the recruitment flexibility of the CPS by expanding the pool of eligible candidates for the CP role.
This subsection removes the "general qualification" requirement for individuals appointed under section 5(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, which allows the DPP to assign the conduct of criminal proceedings to individuals who are not CPs.
Currently, section 5(1) of the Act restricts these appointments to individuals who hold a "general qualification" under section 71(3)(c) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. This hinders the appointment of certain legal professionals, such as CILEX practitioners, from conducting criminal proceedings unless they hold additional qualifications.
By removing this restriction, the measure grants the DPP greater flexibility in determining who is qualified to conduct criminal proceedings, allowing a more diverse range of legal professionals to be considered for CP roles.
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The clause will amend section 17 of the POA 1985, which provides for costs orders to be made to a private prosecutor, for expenses incurred by them in those proceedings. The clause amends section 17 so that such costs orders for private prosecutors will be subject to regulations made under section 20(1A) of the POA 1985.
The clause will also amend section 20(1A) to extend the Lord Chancellor's existing power, to allow the Lord Chancellor to make regulations to set rates for the expenses which may be recovered by a private prosecutor from central funds under a section 17 costs order.
It is intended that the extended power in section 20(1A) will be used by the Lord Chancellor to set rates for private prosecutions in regulations, which will be fully consulted on prior to being laid.
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Sentencing reviews etc
Sentencing reviews etc
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Subsection (2) amends paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It inserts new sub-paragraphs (2) to (4), which apply only in England and Wales.
New sub-paragraph (2) provides that, where the Attorney General receives a request to review a sentence in the last 14 days of the28-day period, they may apply for leave to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal within 14 days of receiving that request. This is the limited extent to which the time limit is extended beyond the 28-day period.
New sub-paragraph (3) provides that a certificate of the Attorney General is conclusive evidence of when a request to review a sentence is received.
New sub-paragraph (4) sets out that, where the Attorney General receives multiple requests to review a sentence, the references to a request to review a sentence in new sub-paragraphs (2) to (3) are to the first request that is received. Calculation of the time limit to apply for leave to refer a case is therefore from the first request that is received and not any subsequent requests.
Subsection (3) specifies that new sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) do not apply to Northern Ireland.
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Clause 12 substitutes “the general limit in a magistrates' court” for “6 months" in the following six offences which are triable-either way so that they are subject to the general limit in the magistrates' court as specified in section 224(1A)(b) of the Sentencing Code: a. Section 1(6)(a) of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful sub-letting: secure tenancies); b. Section 2(7)(a) of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful sub-letting: assured tenancies and secure contracts); C. Section 30(3)(b) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (breach of various orders or requirements under this Act); d. Section 339(2)(a) of the Sentencing Act 2020 (breach of a criminal behaviour order); e. Section 354(4)(a) of the Sentencing Act 2020 (breach of a sexual harm prevention order); and f. Section 363(2)(a) of the Sentencing Act 2020 (breach of a restraining order).
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Final provisions
Final provisions
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Clause 13(1), (2) and (4) creates a power for the Secretary of State to make any consequential amendments that may be required to existing law to ensure consistency in the statute book and operability of the provisions of this Bill by way of regulations subject to draft affirmative procedure. Subsections (3) and (5) provide that these regulations can make supplementary, incidental, transitional or saving provision, and that these elements will be subject to negative procedure.
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Clause 14(1) provides that any amendment or repeal made by this Bill has the same extent within the United Kingdom as the provision amended or repealed, with the effect that all provisions of the Bill, bar clause 2, clause 11 and clauses 13-16, extend to England and Wales. Clause 2 and clauses 13-16 are dealt with below. Clause 11 extends and applies to England and Wales; it also extends to Northern Ireland but does not apply there.
Subsection (2) provides that section 384 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (extent outside the United Kingdom) applies to amendments made by clause 2 of the Bill as those provisions apply to provisions of that Act, with the effect that the amendments made by clause 2 extend to England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the British Overseas Territories except Gibraltar, and may be extended to the Channel Islands by Order in Council. They apply to armed forces personnel and civilians subject to service discipline wherever they are in the world.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Subsection (3) provides that clauses 13-16 (General) extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Clause 15(1), (2) and (3) provide that all of the provisions of the Bill will come into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints via regulations, apart from clauses 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Bill which will come into force two months after Royal Assent, and clauses 13-16 (General) which will come into force on the day on which the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
Subsections (4), (5) and (6) provide for the Secretary of State to make transitional or saving provision by way of regulations in connection with the coming into force of any provision of the Bill, and that these regulations will be subject to negative procedure.
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This clause provides that the short title of the Bill will be the Victims and Courts Act 2025, once the Bill becomes an Act.
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Schedules
Schedules
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Section 3
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Restriction of parental responsibility: serious sexual offences
Restriction of parental responsibility: serious sexual offences
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Section 10C
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Serious sexual offences for the purposes of section 10C
Serious sexual offences for the purposes of section
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Protection of Children Act 1978
Protection of Children Act 1978
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Criminal Justice Act 1988
Criminal Justice Act 1988
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Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
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Inchoate offences
Inchoate offences
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Section 5
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Victims ’ rights to make representations and receive information etc
Victims’ rights to make representations and receive information etc
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Part 1
Part 1
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Representations and information
Representations and information
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Introduction
Introduction
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Imprisonment or detention
Imprisonment or detention
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Hospital orders
Hospital orders
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Hospital directions
Hospital directions
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Transfer directions
Transfer directions
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Part 2
Part 2
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Information
Information
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Introduction
Introduction
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Victims ’ rights to receive information
Victims’ rights to receive information
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Information: victims ’ rights
Information: victims’ rights
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Imprisonment or detention
Imprisonment or detention
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Victims ’ rights to receive information
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Hospital orders
Hospital orders
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Information where restriction order made
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Victim impact statements where restriction order made
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Information where restriction order not made
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Removal of restriction
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Hospital directions
Hospital directions
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Information
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Removal of restriction
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Transfer directions
Transfer directions
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Information where restriction direction given
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Information where restriction direction not given
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Removal of restriction
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Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Information: powers etc
Information: powers etc
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Power to disclose information to victims
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Victim impact statements where hospital order made with restriction order
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order
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Saving for other powers of provider of probation services
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Part 3
Part 3
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Representations and information: offences
Representations and information: offences
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Offences
Offences
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Schedule 6A
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Representations and information: offences
Representations and information: offences
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Part 1
Part 1
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Offences in respect of which certain custodial sentence imposed
Offences in respect of which certain custodial sentence imposed
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Common law offences
Common law offences
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False imprisonment.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Offences against the Person Act 1861
Offences against the Person Act 1861
Page 54
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Explosive Substances Act 1883
Explosive Substances Act 1883
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929
Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Children and Young Persons Act 1933
Children and Young Persons Act 1933
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Infanticide Act 1938
Infanticide Act 1938
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
An offence under section 1 of the Infanticide Act 1938 (infanticide).
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sexual Offences Act 1956
Sexual Offences Act 1956
Page 55
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Mental Health Act 1959
Mental Health Act 1959
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Indecency with Children Act 1960
Indecency with Children Act 1960
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sexual Offences Act 1967
Sexual Offences Act 1967
Page 56
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Firearms Act 1968
Firearms Act 1968
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Theft Act 1968
Theft Act 1968
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Criminal Damage Act 1971
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Law Act 1977
Criminal Law Act 1977
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Protection of Children Act 1978
Protection of Children Act 1978
Page 57
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Taking of Hostages Act 1982
Taking of Hostages Act 1982
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Aviation Security Act 1982
Aviation Security Act 1982
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983
Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Mental Health Act 1983
Mental Health Act 1983
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Child Abduction Act 1984
Child Abduction Act 1984
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985
Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Public Order Act 1986
Public Order Act 1986
Page 58
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Road Traffic Act 1988
Road Traffic Act 1988
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990
Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Chemical Weapons Act 1996
Chemical Weapons Act 1996
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Terrorism Act 2000
Terrorism Act 2000
Page 59
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Page 60
Page 61
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Terrorism Act 2006
Terrorism Act 2006
Page 62
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Serious Crime Act 2015
Serious Crime Act 2015
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Crime and Policing Act 2025
Crime and Policing Act 2025
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Inchoate offences
Inchoate offences
Page 63
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Part 2
Part 2
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Representations and information: other offences
Representations and information: other offences
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Family Law Act 1996
Family Law Act 1996
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Serious Crime Act 2015
Serious Crime Act 2015
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Stalking Protection Act 2019
Stalking Protection Act 2019
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sentencing Code
Sentencing Code
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Inchoate offences
Inchoate offences
Page 64
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Part 3
Part 3
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Information: other offences
Information: other offences
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Common law offences
Common law offences
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Battery.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Offences against the Person Act 1861
Offences against the Person Act 1861
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Prevention of Crime Act 1953
Prevention of Crime Act 1953
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Suicide Act 1961
Suicide Act 1961
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Law Act 1967
Criminal Law Act 1967
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Law Act 1977
Criminal Law Act 1977
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Mental Health Act 1983
Mental Health Act 1983
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Criminal Justice Act 1988
Page 65
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Police Act 1996
Police Act 1996
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
Page 66
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Offensive Weapons Act 2019
Offensive Weapons Act 2019
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Sentencing Code
Sentencing Code
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Crime and Policing Act 2025
Crime and Policing Act 2025
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
An offence under section 14 of the Crime and Policing Act 2025 .
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Inchoate offences
Inchoate offences
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Part 4
Part 4
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Consequential and other provision
Consequential and other provision
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Introduction
Introduction
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 is amended as follows.
Source Bill 233 EN 2024-25
Consequential provision etc
Consequential provision etc
Page 67
Page 68
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 11, page 12, line 22, at end insert—
“(aa) in that sub-paragraph omit “28” and insert “56””
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment increases the window for applying to the Unduly Lenient Sentences Scheme from 28 days to 56 days.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 11, page 12, line 23, after “(2)” insert “unless an application is made by a victim, or their deceased victim’s next of kin, in which case notice of an application shall be given within one year”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment increases the window for applying to the Unduly Lenient Sentences Scheme to one year for a victim of a crime or a deceased victim’s next of kin.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 11, page 12, line 29, leave out “28” and insert “56”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment is contingent on Amendment 8.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 11, page 12, line 39, at end insert—
“(5) In accordance with the provision under sub-paragraph (1) the Crown Prosecution Service must write to the victim, or a deceased victim’s next of kin, within 10 working days of the sentence being delivered to make them aware of their ability to apply for a review of sentencing.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment is contingent on Amendment 9. It would require the CPS to write to a victim, or a deceased victim’s next of kin, within 10 working days of a sentence being delivered to make them aware of their ability to apply for a review.
Tabled: 04 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 4 June 2025
This amendment was NOT MOVED
To move the following Clause—
“Child sexual abuse victims and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
(1) The Secretary of State must amend the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to—
(a) widen eligibility for compensation to all victims of child sexual abuse, including online-facilitated sexual abuse;
(b) ensure applicants with unspent convictions are not automatically excluded where offences are linked to the circumstances of their sexual abuse as a child; and
(c) increase the time limit for applications for compensation from victims of child sexual abuse to seven years from—
(i) the date the offence was reported to the police; or
(ii) the age of 18, where the offence was reported while the victim was a child.
(2) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a new draft of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme within six months of this section coming into force.”
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 1
Sarah Champion (Lab - Rotherham) - 04 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would widen eligibility for compensation to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to all victims of child sexual abuse.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT SELECTED
To move the following Clause—
“Duty to commission support services for victims of abuse and exploitation
(1) It is the duty of relevant local commissioning bodies to commission sufficient and specific support services for victims of abuse and exploitation in accordance with need.
(2) The services commissioned and provided under subsection (1) must include, but are not limited to—
(a) specialist services for adult victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence;
(b) specialist services for child victims of exploitation, sexual abuse and domestic abuse;
(c) specialist advocacy and community-based services for victims with specific needs including – but not limited to – child victims, d/Deaf and disabled victims, Black and minoritised victims and LGBTQ+ victims, in compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.
(3) For the purpose of section (1), “relevant local commissioning bodies” include –
(a) local policing bodies;
(b) integrated care boards, established under Chapter A3 of Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006;
(c) local authorities.
(4) For the purpose of section (1), commissioning services "in accordance with need" should at a minimum be based on outcomes from joint strategic needs assessments undertaken in accordance with section 14 (3) and (4) of the Victims and Prisoners Act.”
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 2
Jess Asato (Lab - Lowestoft) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would place a duty on relevant local statutory agencies to commission specific support services for victims of abuse and exploitation, including tailored services for those with specific needs, informed by strategic assessments of the needs of victims in their local area.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT SELECTED
To move the following Clause—
“Provision of support for caregivers of victims of sexual or violent offences
(1) A relevant authority must commission and make available appropriate support services for the parent, guardian or person who has responsibility for the care of a victim of a sexual or violent offence, who—
(a) at the time of the offence, was under the age of 18, or
(b) is an adult at risk of harm.
(2) Services commissioned under this section must be—
(a) appropriate to the needs of the caregiver in supporting the recovery and ongoing care of the victim,
(b) trauma-informed and culturally competent, and
(c) accessible without unreasonable delay or procedural burden.
(3) “Relevant authority” for the purposes of this section includes—
(a) Police and Crime Commissioners,
(b) Local authorities in England and Wales,
(c) Integrated Care Boards, and
(d) any other body designated by the Secretary of State by regulations.
(4) In exercising their duty under this section, relevant authorities must have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
(5) The Secretary of State must publish such guidance within six months of the passing of this Act, following consultation with relevant stakeholders including—
(a) victim support organisations,
(b) organisations representing children and vulnerable adults, and
(c) persons with lived-experience of the effects of sexual or violent offences.
(6) In this section—
“Adult at risk of harm” means a person aged 18 or over who—
(a) has needs for care and support,
(b) is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
(c) as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it;
“Sexual and violent offences” include those offences listed under Part 3 of Schedule 2 of this Act.”
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 1
Jess Asato (Lab - Lowestoft) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
The new clause would introduce a statutory duty to commission services to support a parent, guardian or responsible adult where the victim is under 18 or an adult at risk of harm and who has been a victim of sexual or violent crime.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
To move the following Clause—
“Court transcripts of sentencing remarks
(1) All sentencing remarks made in the Crown Court must be published within two sitting days of being delivered.
(2) All publications must be freely available to all members of the public.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 4
Robert Jenrick (Con - Newark) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT SELECTED
To move the following Clause—
“Court transcripts
(1) All court transcripts from the Crown Court must be published within two sitting days of being delivered.
(2) All publications must be freely available to all members of the public.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 4
Robert Jenrick (Con - Newark) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT SELECTED
To move the following Clause—
“Publication of data
The Secretary of State must publish, on a quarterly basis, statistics on—
(a) the nationality,
(b) method of entry to the United Kingdom,
(c) visa route,
(d) visa status,
(e) asylum status, and
(f) country of birth,
of people found guilty and sentenced in the crown court and the magistrates’ court.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 9
Robert Jenrick (Con - Newark) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
To move the following Clause—
“Court delays: impact on victims
Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State must undertake a review of the impact that delays in the court system have on victims.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
To move the following Clause—
“Victim personal statements
(1) The Secretary of State shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, issue revised guidance on the content of victim personal statements.
(2) The revised guidance issued under subsection (1) must stipulate that when making a victim personal statement, a victim shall be able to say anything they wish about the defendant, provided it is not contrary to any statutory limitations on free speech, makes allegations of untried criminal conduct or is disorderly language.
(3) The court must disregard any prejudicial comments made during a victim personal statement.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to review how to make victim personal statements less restrictive and clarify what can be included.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT SELECTED
To move the following Clause—
“Unpaid court fines
(1) The Limitation Act 1980 is amended as follows.
(2) For section 9 (Time limit for actions for sums recoverable by statute substitute—
“9 Actions for sums recoverable by statute.
(1) An action to recover any sum recoverable by virtue of any enactment can be brought at any time.
(2) The Secretary of State shall have the power to bring proceedings for the recovery of any amount in unpaid fines and court fees owed as a civil debt.
(3) In this part, a fine includes any sum ordered to be paid under an order referred to in section 24, subsection (1) of the Courts Act 2003 and also includes any sum which falls to be treated as a fine by virtue of the definition in subsection (4) of that section.””
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 4
Robert Jenrick (Con - Newark) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This new clause enables the recovery of fines imposed by the court indefinitely (as opposed to a six-year limitation) and gives the Secretary of State the power to recover amounts owed.
Tabled: 18 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 18 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
To move the following Clause—
“Sentencing guidelines on court fines
Within 18 months of this Act receiving Royal Assent, the Sentencing Council must revise relevant sentencing guidelines so that the court must award compensation to a victim to the value of items stolen when imposing compensation for the offence of theft, burglary, fraud, or any other crime that has resulted in a financial loss to the victim.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 18 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Sentencing Council to revise sentencing guidelines so that a court must impose compensation commensurate to the value of stolen items when issuing fines.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
To move the following Clause—
“Extension of Victim Contact Scheme
(1) The Secretary of State must ensure that the Victim Contact Scheme is made available to—
(a) victims of offenders sentenced to less than 12 months for violent and sexual offences,
(b) victims in cases involving coercive or controlling behaviour, stalking, or harassment, and
(c) bereaved families in manslaughter or death by dangerous driving cases.
(2) The Secretary of State must ensure that information under the Victim Contact Scheme is communicated in a timely and trauma-informed manner.
(3) The Secretary of State must publish data each year on uptake and accessibility of the Victim Contact Scheme.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 6
Josh Babarinde (LD - Eastbourne) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
To move the following Clause—
“Access to free court transcripts for victims
(1) Victims of criminal offences shall be entitled to receive, without charge, court transcripts of—
(a) sentencing remarks,
(b) judicial summings-up,
(c) bail decisions and conditions relevant to their case.
(2) The Secretary of State must ensure that such transcripts are provided within 14 days of a request.
(3) The duty under subsection (1) shall apply irrespective of whether the victim gave evidence in the case.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Josh Babarinde (LD - Eastbourne) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
To move the following Clause—
“Restricting parental responsibility of certain offenders
After section 10B of the Children Act 1989 insert—
“10CA Duty to make prohibited steps order where serious sexual or violent offence committed
(1) This section applies where the Crown Court sentences a person (“the offender”) to a life sentence, or a term of imprisonment or detention of 10 years or more, for a serious sexual offence or violent offence committed against someone with whom they share parental responsibility for a child.
(2) The Crown Court must make a prohibited steps order with respect to each child for whom the offender has parental responsibility.
(3) The order must—
(a) specify that no step of any kind which could be taken by a parent in meeting their parental responsibility for a child may be taken by the offender with respect to the child without the consent of the High Court or the family court, and
(b) be made to have effect until the order is varied or discharged by the High Court or the family court.
(4) But the Crown Court must not make a prohibited steps order under this section if—
(a) making the order is prohibited by section 29(3) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002,
(b) a prohibited steps order is already in force that meets the requirements in subsection (3), or
(c) it appears to the Crown Court that it would not be in the interests of justice to do so.
(5) A prohibited steps order made under this section does not cease to have effect if—
(a) the offender is acquitted of the offence on appeal, or
(b) the sentence is reduced, on appeal, so that it is no longer a life sentence or a term of imprisonment or detention of 4 years or more,
but see section 10D.
(6) Sections 1, 7 and 11 do not apply where the Crown Court proceeds under this section.
(7) A prohibited steps order made under this section is to be treated for the purposes of section 31F(6) of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (proceedings and decisions) as if it were made by the family court.
(8) The Crown Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain any proceedings in connection with the enforcement of a prohibited steps order made under this section.
(9) A reference in this Act to an order under this section includes, so far as the context permits, an order varying or discharging it.
(10) In this section—
“life sentence” means a sentence of imprisonment, detention or custody for life, or during His Majesty’s pleasure;
“serious sexual offence” means an offence listed in Schedule ZA1;
“violent offence” means an offence of homicide, assault or robbery.
(11) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the list of offences in Schedule ZA1.””
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 1
Bradley Thomas (Con - Bromsgrove) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 20 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 20 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
To move the following Clause—
“Unpaid court fines
(1) The Limitation Act 1980 is amended as follows.
(2) After section 9(1) insert—
“, except in the circumstances where a fine has been handed down by the Crown Court in respect of an offence.
(1A) Where the circumstances referred to subsection (1) apply, the Secretary of State shall have the power to bring proceedings for the recovery of any amount in unpaid fines at any time.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 1
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 20 Jun 2025
Tabled: 23 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 23 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
To move the following Clause—
“Duty to collect and publish data upon sentencing
(1) At the time of passing a sentence by a judge or magistrate the relevant court must provide to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (“HMCTS”) the following information regarding the sentence passed—
(a) offence type,
(b) sentence length,
(c) such information about the sentenced individual as the Secretary of State sees fit, which must include—
(i) nationality,
(ii) method of entry to the United Kingdom,
(iii) visa route,
(iv) visa status,
(v) asylum status, and
(vi) country of birth.
(2) HMCTS must collect and collate the information on the basis set out in subsection (1) on sentences passed in the courts.
(3) Once every three months, the Secretary of State must publish statistics based on the information collected by HMCTS under subsection (2).”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 26
Robert Jenrick (Con - Newark) - 23 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 1, page 1, line 17, at end insert—
“(3A) If the court is minded not to make an order under subsection (2), the court has a duty to consult the victim or their family if a victim is deceased.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
Clause 1, page 2, line 2, leave out from “force,” to end of line, and insert “so long as it is not grossly disproportionate.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 1, page 3, line 33, at end insert—
“41C Power to restrain and gag a disruptive offender
(1) This section applies where during attendance at a sentencing hearing an offender is disruptive of court proceedings.
(2) The Judge may order the offender to be restrained and gagged to reduce their disruption.
(3) When a Judge is minded not to make an order under subsection (2) and instead remove the offender from the court room they must consult the victim or their family if the victim is deceased.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 1
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 2, page 4, line 11, at end insert—
“(3A) If the court is minded not to make an order under subsection (2), the court has a duty to consult the victim and their family if they are deceased.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 2, page 4, line 24, leave out from “force,” to end of line and insert “so long as it is not grossly disproportionate.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 3, page 6, leave out lines 1 and 2 and insert “for a serious sexual offence committed against a child.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Josh Babarinde (LD - Eastbourne) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would extend the provision of restricting parental responsibility where a parent is sentenced for a serious sexual offence committed against a child, regardless of whether it is their child or on the length of sentence handed down.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 3, page 6, line 1, leave out “of 4 years or more”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would ensure that where anyone is sent to prison because of a sexual offence the court would be under a duty to make a prohibited steps order.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 3, page 6, line 2, leave out “for whom the offender has parental responsibility.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would ensure the court was under a duty to make a prohibited steps order where anyone is sent to prison because of a sexual offence against a child, whether or not that child was one for which they had parental responsibility.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 3, page 6, line 19, after “justice” insert “or of a child and the non-offending parent”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Josh Babarinde (LD - Eastbourne) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would mean that a judge could have discretion to decide not to make a prohibited steps order when it was not deemed in the interest of a child and the non-offending parent.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
Clause 3, page 6, line 20, leave out from “not” to end of line 25 and insert “ceases to have effect if the offender is acquitted of the offence on appeal.
(5A) A prohibited steps order made under this section does not cease to have effect if the sentence is reduced, on appeal, so that it is no longer a life sentence or a term of imprisonment or detention of 4 years or more.”
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would ensure that a prohibited steps order would cease to have effect if the offender is acquitted of the offence on appeal. It would also require that a prohibited steps order remain in effect where a sentence is reduced on appeal so that it is no longer a life sentence or a term of imprisonment or detention of four years or more.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NEGATIVED ON DIVISION
Clause 3, page 6, line 43, at end insert—
“10CA Duty to consider make prohibited steps order where serious sexual offence committed against any child
(1) This section applies where the Crown Court sentences a person (“the offender”) to a term of imprisonment or detention of less than 4 years, for a serious sexual offence committed against any child.
(2) The Crown Court must make a prohibited steps order with respect to each child for whom the offender has parental responsibility.
(3) A prohibited steps order must be made if the court is of the opinion that there is a significant risk to children of serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further serious sexual offences.
(4) In making that assessment, the court—
(a) must take into account all the information that is available to it about the nature and circumstances of the offence,
(b) may take into account all the information that is available to it about the nature and circumstances of any other offences of which the offender has been convicted by a court anywhere in the world,
(c) may take into account any information which is before it about any pattern of behaviour of which any of the offences mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) forms part, and
(d) may take into account any information about the offender which is before it.
(5) The reference in subsection (4)(b) to a conviction by a court includes a reference to—
(a) a conviction of an offence in—
(i) any proceedings under the Army Act 1955, the Air Force Act 1955 or the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (whether before a court-martial or any other court or person authorised under any of those Acts to award a punishment in respect of any offence), or
(ii) any proceedings before a Standing Civilian Court;
where "conviction" includes the recording of a finding that a charge in respect of the offence has been proved), and
(b) a conviction of—
(i) a service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006, or
(ii) an SDA offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059),
where "conviction" includes anything that under section 376(1) and (2) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 is to be treated as a conviction).
(6) The order must be made to have effect until the order is varied or discharged by the High Court or the family court.
(7) But the Crown Court must not make a prohibited steps order under this section if—
(a) making the order is prohibited by section 29(3) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002,
(b) a prohibited steps order is already in force that meets the requirements in subsection (3), or
(c) it appears to the Crown Court that it would not be in the interests of justice to do so.
(8) Further, the Crown Court must not make a prohibited steps order under this section if—in respect of any child in respect of whom the offender has parental responsibility—the Court is of the opinion that—
(a) the removal of parental responsibility is not in the best interests of that child; and
(b) there is no significant risk to that particular child of serious harm occasioned by the commission by the offender of further serious sexual offences.
(9) For the purposes of subsection (8), each child in respect of whom the offender has parental responsibility must be considered separately.
(10) A prohibited steps order made under this section does not cease to have effect if—
(a) the offender is acquitted of the offence on appeal, or
(b) the sentence is reduced, on appeal, so that it is no longer a life sentence or a term of imprisonment or detention of 4 years or more, but see section 10D.
(11) Sections 1, 10 and 16 do not apply where the Crown Court proceeds under this section.
(12) A prohibited steps order made under this section is to be treated for the purposes of section 31F(6) of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (proceedings and decisions) as if it were made by the family court.
(13) The Crown Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain any proceedings in connection with the enforcement of a prohibited steps order made under this section.
(14) A reference in this Act to an order under this section includes, so far as the context permits, an order varying or discharging it.
(15) In this section “serious sexual offence” shall have the same meaning as that in s.10C.
(16) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the list of offences in Schedule ZA1.”
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 1
Jess Asato (Lab - Lowestoft) - 17 Jun 2025
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was WITHDRAWN
Clause 3, page 7, line 4, leave out from “and” to end of line 9
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment is linked to Amendment 22.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 3, page 7, line 14, leave out from “and” to end of line 16
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment is linked to Amendment 22.
Tabled: 17 Jun 2025
Public Bill Amendments as at 17 June 2025
This amendment was NOT CALLED
Clause 3, page 7, leave out line 20
Type: Opposition
Signatures: 3
Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) - 17 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment, along with Amendments 20 and 21, would ensure that there has to be a review by the family court in all instances where a prohibited steps order is issued.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 4, leave out “persons” and insert “a person”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment and Amendments 2 to 7 ensure that exemptions conferred by sections 1 and 5 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 remain available to persons with rights of audience in relation to certain proceedings in the Senior Courts and all proceedings in the county court and magistrates’ court.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 5, after “subsection (3)” insert “who does not have a general qualification (within the meaning given by section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990)”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 1.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 11, leave out “persons designated for the purposes of subsection (3)” and insert “such a person”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 1.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 19, after “omit “” insert “but”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
This amendment updates the text to be omitted from section 5(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 so that the provision reads correctly in light of the amendment to that provision currently included in the Bill.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 22, leave out “persons” and insert “a person”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 1.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 23, after “subsection (1)” insert “who does not have a general qualification (within the meaning given by section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990)”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 1.
Tabled: 10 Jun 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 10 June 2025
This amendment was AGREED
Clause 9, page 11, line 29, leave out “persons appointed under subsection (1)” and insert “such a person”
Type: Government
Signatures: 1
Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) - 10 Jun 2025Member's explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 1.
NO DECISION has been made on this amendment
To move the following Clause—
“Death by homicide of British nationals abroad
(1) The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 1(2)(c), at end insert—
“, including the death by homicide of a British national outside the United Kingdom””
Type: Backbencher
Signatures: 1
Joshua Reynolds (LD - Maidenhead)Member's explanatory statement
This new clause would expand the definition of victim to include bereaved close relatives of British nationals who are victims of homicide abroad for the purpose of providing them with rights under the Victims’ Code.