Victims

Question 1

What is a victim?

S4 VRA 2002

Answer 1

(i) a person against whom an offence is committed by another person; and
(ii) a person who suffers physical injury, or loss of, or damage to, property; and
(iii) a parent or legal guardian of a child, or of a young person, who falls within subparagraph (i) or subparagraph (ii), unless that parent or guardian is charged with the commission of, or convicted or found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, the offence concerned; and
(iv) a member of the immediate family of a person who, as a result of an offence committed by another person, dies or is incapable, unless that member is charged with the commission of, or convicted or found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, the offence concerned

Question 2

What is a specified offence?

S29 VRA 2002

Answer 2

• an offence of a sexual nature or other serious assault or
• an offence that has resulted in serious injury to a person, in the death of a person, or in a person becoming incapable; or
• an offence of another kind, and that has led to the victim having ongoing fears, on reasonable grounds,—
  (i) for his or her physical safety or security; or
  (ii) for the physical safety or security of 1 or more members of his or her immediate family.

Question 3

Who can be registered on the Victim Notification Register?

Answer 3

Only victims of offences specified in S29 VRA 2002 can go on the VNR.

Victims are notified of the offenders;

• bail
• release
• escape
• death