Victims of crime in the UK: rights, support and recent trends

Every week, courts across the UK hear from people who have been harmed by crime, and many more victims never reach a courtroom at all. This article explains how victims are defined and counted, what rights and support they can expect, and how reporting rules protect them. It does not name individual recent cases, which should be checked against court records and local reporting.

Who is counted as a victim?

In everyday use, a victim is someone who has suffered harm because of a criminal offence. In England and Wales, the Victims' Code of Practice applies this to people directly harmed, and in some circumstances to close relatives of someone who has died as a result of a crime. Businesses and other organisations can be victims too.

Being a victim does not depend on a charge, an arrest or a conviction. Support and rights can begin once a crime has been reported to the police, and some support services are open to people who have not reported anything.

How recent crime is measured

No single figure captures the number of victims. Two main types of data are used, and they answer different questions.

Police recorded crime

These figures count offences reported to, and recorded by, police forces. They are affected by how willing people are to report, and by changes in recording practice. A rise can reflect more reporting rather than more offending.

Crime surveys

The Crime Survey for England and Wales, run by the Office for National Statistics, asks a sample of residents about their experiences, including offences they never reported. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own surveys: the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey and the Northern Ireland Crime Survey. [CHECK: insert latest headline figure and release date from the relevant statistical bulletin.]

Because the methods differ, figures from one source should not be set directly against another, and comparisons between the four nations need care. Each has its own legal definitions and recording rules.

What rights do victims have?

In England and Wales the Victims' Code sets out entitlements for victims. They include:

• being told about the progress of the investigation and any decisions on charging;
• being offered the chance to make a Victim Personal Statement, describing how the crime has affected them;
• being referred to support services;
• being told the outcome of a trial, and the sentence if there is a conviction.

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 strengthened the legal footing of these arrangements. Many victims of serious violent or sexual offences can also join the Victim Contact Scheme, run by the Probation Service. It keeps them informed about an offender's release or transfer once a sentence of 12 months or more has been imposed.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have comparable frameworks, set out in the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Northern Ireland Victim Charter. Details and wording differ.

Support, compensation and restorative justice

Independent charities such as Victim Support, and specialist organisations for domestic abuse, sexual violence and bereavement, offer practical and emotional help. The Witness Service in England and Wales supports people who give evidence at court.

Victims of violent crime who suffered physical or mental injury may be able to claim from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. In England, Wales and Scotland it is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, while Northern Ireland runs its own scheme. Applications generally have to be made within a set period, usually two years from the incident, with exceptions. [CHECK: confirm current time limits before publication.]

Restorative justice lets a victim communicate with the person who harmed them, if both agree and it is judged safe. It is voluntary and does not replace the criminal process.

Reporting restrictions and fairness

Victims of sexual offences in England and Wales are entitled to lifelong anonymity, and it is a criminal offence to publish anything likely to identify them. Children involved in criminal cases are often protected by separate orders. Courts can also impose other reporting restrictions, so journalists must check what applies before publishing.

Fairness also means careful language about those accused. Someone charged with an offence is presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise, and coverage before a verdict should be limited to what has been said in open court.

How the four nations compare

Where victims can turn

Anyone affected by crime can contact the police, and in an emergency should dial 999. Victim Support and specialist helplines offer confidential help, whether or not a crime has been reported. Those seeking updates on a case can ask the police or the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland, or the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland.

Behind each statistic is a person with their own needs and timescale. Reliable figures, clear rights and responsible reporting all help to ensure that victims are treated with