Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the Government’s response to the Victims’ Code consultation, said:

“The Government’s Victims’ Code is simply an unenforceable piece of paper that will be shoved in a drawer and ignored. If this Government really wanted to put victims first, they should follow the lead of Labour and commit to a Victims’ Law. Only by enshrining clear enforceable rights in an Act of Parliament will our criminal justice system treat victims and witnesses with the proper dignity and respect they deserve.”

“Victim Impact Statements were introduced by Labour, and have a really important role to play in conveying to courts the anguish and harm the crime has inflicted. But the Government’s Victims’ Code will do nothing to ensure that the impact statement is offered to the victim in the first place, and is made available in the court on the day of the hearing. With their toothless code, there’ll be no one taking charge of the Impact Statement, meaning it continues to be sidelined. The necessary change can only be achieved by Labour’s Victims’ Law”