Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Paragraph: 153
Legal advice pilot for complainants must consider support for therapy record applications.
Recommendation
The pilot of the provision of legal advice to complainants—which we recommended at paragraph 125 above—should take account of support in relation to applications for counselling or therapy records.
Government Response Summary
The Ministry of Justice's legal support consultation explored enhancing victims' access to legal advice regarding requests for personal information, and the Home Office launched a consultation on police requests for third-party material, directly addressing the recommendation for support related to counselling records.
Paragraph Reference:
153
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Ministry of Justice’s legal support consultation explored options to enhance rape victims’ access to legal support or advice relating to all police or prosecutor requests for personal information. We aim to ensure victims of rape or serious sexual assault understand and are empowered to challenge any requests for personal information. In addition to the work being done by the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office at the end of May launched a consultation exploring police requests for third party material, which can sometimes be unnecessary and disproportionate and cause distress to victims. The consultation aims to explore these issues as well as certain proposed solutions.