Victims and Courts Bill: call for evidence
21 May 2025
Do you have relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Victims and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament?
If so, you can submit your views in writing to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee which is going to consider this Bill.
The Public Bill Committee will meet for the first time on Tuesday 17 June 2025 to scrutinise the Victims and Courts Bill line by line. and is expected to report by 5.00pm on Thursday 26 June 2025.
When the Committee concludes its consideration of the Bill, it is no longer able to receive written evidence.
Anyone considering submitting written evidence is strongly advised to do so as soon as possible, as the Committee can conclude its considerations earlier than the expected deadline.
Aims of the Bill
The bill would create a statutory power for judges to order offenders to attend their sentencing hearings and to give out sanctions that would take place in prison if they do not attend.
The bill would restrict parental responsibility for child sex offenders sentenced for four years or more for an offence against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility.
The bill would expand the eligibility of the Victim Contact Scheme, meaning more victims could access the scheme.
It would strengthen the powers of the Victims Commissioner, so they were able to investigate individual cases in some circumstances, request information from local authorities and social housing providers, and publish an annual report reviewing compliance with the Victims’ Code.
The bill would increase flexibility for the Director of Public Prosecutions in appointing Crown Prosecutors and set rates at which prosecutor costs in private prosecutions can be recovered from Central Funds.
The bill would amend the time limit for the Attorney General to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it is unduly lenient.
The bill would amend Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers for six either-way offences bringing them in line with other offences.
All of the bill would apply to England and Wales and clause 2 would apply to the armed forces whether in the UK or serving anywhere in the world.
Follow the progress of the Victims and Courts Bill
The Victims and Courts Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 7 May 2025. The Bill’s second reading was held on 20 May 2025.
- Bills before Parliament: Victims and Courts Bill
- Read Explanatory Notes: Victims and Courts Bill
- House of Commons Library Briefing Paper
Oral evidence sessions for this Bill will be held on 17 June 2025.
Guidance on submitting written evidence
Deadline for written evidence submissions
The Public Bill Committee is now able to receive written evidence. The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.
Amendments tabled to the Bill, and information regarding the order in which amendments will be taken in Committee, will be available in due course on the Bill’s publications page (under ‘Amendment paper’ and ‘Selection of amendments’).
Once the Committee has dealt with an amendment, it will not revisit it.
Your submission should be emailed to scrutiny@parliament.uk
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