You have rights as a victim of crime. These rights are explained in the Code of Practice for victims of crime document below. It explains what every victim of crime in England and Wales can expect from each criminal justice agency. This includes the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the courts and the Youth Offending Team (YOT).
Your rights include:
- To be kept informed about your case by the police (at least monthly)
- To hear when a suspect is arrested, charged, bailed or sentenced
- To apply for extra help when giving evidence in court (called special measures) if you are vulnerable or intimidated
- To be told when an offender will be released, if they have been sentenced to a year or more in prison for a violent or sexual offence
- To be referred to victim support
You can read a summary of your rights in the Victims guide - Code of Practice or the full details in the Code of Practice for victims of crime documents below.