For several years, the government promised to legislate to enshrine enhanced rights
and entitlements for victims of crime. The Victims and Prisoners Bill offers an
opportunity to improve victims’ access to justice and support. However, as introduced to Parliament, the Bill falls short of its commitment to ensuring victims’ experiences accessing the Criminal Justice System and support services are strengthened.

There is a broader consensus that one of the most significant gaps in this Bill is the
lack of protection for migrant victims despite their increased susceptibility to
experiencing serious crimes, including various and overlapping forms of VAWG.

Yesterday, the Committee stage of this Bill began with a number of oral evidence sessions. Witnesses called for changes to the Bill to guarantee equal access to justice and protection for migrant women, including our call to establish a firewall to ensure the reporting of a crime and access to support is clearly separated from any form of immigration control. The Victims and Prisoners Bill can become genuinely transformational by introducing a firewall on a statutory footing.

Establishing safe reporting mechanisms is vital to building trust and ensuring that
migrant victims of crime feel confident in reporting crime and engaging in the Criminal Justice System. Safe reporting mechanisms can also help the police protect victims, conduct successful investigations, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent crime.

You can read our full written submission to the Public Bill Committee here.