Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reason restorative justice is not included in the Victims Bill consultation.
We have just consulted on how we can enshrine the Victims’ Code in legislation through the Victims’ Bill, to send a clear signal about what victims can and should expect from the criminal justice system. Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime all victims must be told about the option of Restorative Justice and how to access it. In 2021/22, we are providing c£115m of grant funding to Police and Crime Commissioners for victims’ support services, including Restorative Justice. We will further bolster support for victims of crime, by increasing MoJ funding for victim and witness support services to £185 million by 2024-25.