Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to introduce victim awareness training for lawyers in accordance with Article 25 of Directive 2012/29/EU.

The proper treatment of vulnerable victims and witnesses is a priority for the Government.

Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, criminal justice service providers are required to treat victims in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any kind. It also requires service providers to communicate with victims in simple and accessible language, taking appropriate measures where possible to assist victims to understand and be understood.

The Ministry of Justice is working with the legal professions to devise a requirement that all publicly-funded advocates in sexual offences cases must undertake specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses. A report of the review of ways to reduce distress that some victims suffer from cross-examination in trials of sexual violence was published in March 2014 on the government website and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-ways-to-reduce-distress-of-victims-in-trials-of-sexual-violence. The requirement was a recommendation from the review and is intended to change attitudes and behaviours of advocates by equipping them with knowledge and skills for dealing with children and vulnerable people in trials of such offences. The Legal Aid Agency will implement this requirement in due course, and only those advocates who have done the training will be able to be instructed in and undertake serious sexual offences cases.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a wide range of training on victim awareness for its lawyers. The CPS has developed a number of online e-Learning courses which specifically relate to victims. These are: The Victims’ Code; Victim Personal Statements; Supporting Vulnerable Victims and Witnesses; The Prosecutors’ Pledge; and Special Measures.

The CPS has also recently consulted publicly on the draft guidance on prosecutors speaking to victims and witnesses at court, and training is being designed to underpin that guidance once it is finalised.