Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of allowing police and crime commissioners to commission witness and victim support services.

Dr Phillip Lee

The majority of support services for victims and witnesses of crime have, since April 2015, been commissioned and funded locally by Police and Crime Commissioners, who are generally best placed to provide services to victims of crime in their areas.

Some support services for victims and witnesses currently remain nationally commissioned, including support for families bereaved by murder and manslaughter and by road crime, female and male victims of rape, victims of terrorism and victims and witnesses at criminal courts.

My officials are currently taking the views of Police and Crime Commissioners and other stakeholders and will provide advice to me in due course for consideration of any potential for further devolution in this area.