Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 46
46
Rejected
Paragraph: 152
Victims Bill measures must not be diminished by Human Rights Act reforms
Conclusion
Measures to support victims set out in the Victims Bill and Code should not be diminished by reforms to the Human Rights Act. The safeguards provided by that Act are also important given the weaknesses in the Victims Bill with respect to the ability for individuals to enforce their rights under the Victims’ Code.
Government Response Summary
The government believes its Bill of Rights will strengthen victim protection and states that no changes to either the Victims Bill or the Bill of Rights are necessary as a result of the Committee's concerns.
Paragraph Reference:
152
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
73. The Bill of Rights will strengthen our protection of victims by requiring courts to give great weight to the importance of reducing the risk to the public from those who are subject to a custodial sentence, and by removing blockers to the deportation of foreign national criminals. 24 Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Victims Bill: Government Response 74. Nothing in the Bill of Rights will prevent serious cases from being brought in future. More generally, encouraging litigation against the police is not an effective means of ensuring accountability but instead skews public focus and resources. Decisions on prioritisation should be taken by operational professionals, and not the courts. As such, we do not consider that any changes to either the Victims Bill or the Bill of Rights are necessary. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Victims Bill: Government Response 25