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I’m a victim of crime

The criminal justice system is complex. We’ve heard from victims of crime that they find the system confusing. And that it can be difficult to find the right information. We’re here to help you make sense of it all.

LVWS is an independent service and is separate from the police. We can support you even if you decide not to report the crime you’ve experienced. If you do decide to report the crime, we’ll help you to understand your rights and speak out if you’ve been treated unfairly.

As a victim of crime in England or Wales, you have specific rights set in law. These rights are explained in The Victim’s Code. If you’re a relative of someone who lost their life as a result of a crime, you also have rights under the code.

The Victims’ code is there to make sure that:

  • you’re treated fairly by each organisation within the criminal justice system
  • you know what to expect
  • you know how long things should take.

You have the right to:

It’s your right to be given information in a way that’s easy to understand. If you need interpretation or translation to help you understand or to be understood, it’s your right to access those services.

It’s your right to have details of the crime recorded by the police as soon as possible. If you’re asked to give a statement or be interviewed, it’s your right to access independent support throughout the process.

It’s your right to get written confirmation of the crime you’ve reported. It’s also your right to be given information about the criminal justice process and the support services you can access. This could include Restorative Justice, where you communicate with the person that committed the crime in a safe and supervised way.

It’s your right to be told about specialist organisations that can support you after a crime. It’s also your right to contact them directly and access support that meets your individual needs. This includes support at court and help to understand the criminal justice system.

If you could be entitled to compensation for the crime you experienced, it’s your right to be told how to claim.

It’s your right to be updated on your case, including when important decisions are made. It’s also your right to ask for decisions to be reviewed.

It’s your right to make a Victim Personal Statement, to help the court understand how the crime has affected your life.

If your case goes to court, it’s your right to be given the hearing details within reasonable timescales. It’s also your right to be offered help before and during the trial and where possible, meet with the prosecutor before giving evidence.

It’s your right to be told the outcome of the case. If the defendant is convicted, you’re entitled to an explanation of the sentence. If the offender appeals against their conviction or sentence, it’s your right to be told about the appeal and its outcome.

If you go to court and give evidence, it’s your right to claim your expenses. If any of your property was taken as evidence, it’s your right to get it back as soon as possible.

If the crime you’ve experienced is eligible, it’s your right to access the Victim Contact Scheme. This gives you information about the offender’s prison sentence and details of any parole or release. This could include making a new Victim Personal Statement to tell the Parole Board how the crime continues to affect you.

It’s your right to complain if your rights haven’t been met by any of the organisations within the criminal justice system. If you’re not satisfied with the response to your complaint, you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Call 999 and ask for the police if a crime is in progress or if someone is in immediate danger.

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