Recent Publications & Initiatives


Press Releases



Recent Publications


Victims’ Code of Practice

Consultation - March 2005

The Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act, which received Royal Assent on 15 November 2004, contains a number of measures to extend the Government’s programme of improving services and support to victims of crime.

One of the most significant measures is a new Victims’ Code of Practice, which will set out clearly the services which victims can expect to receive from each criminal justice organisation, and when they should expect to receive them.

This consultation paper contains the final draft of the Code of Practice. Many of you will have seen the previous draft which was published when the then Bill was introduced in Parliament in December 2003, and this version incorporates comments we have received over the past year.

This is a final opportunity for you to tell us if there is anything more we should include. I look forward to hearing your views. Together we can and must do more to help those who suffer. Thank you for caring enough to respond.

Baroness Scotland Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System


Victims - Code of Practice - Consultation  Download Acrobat Reader (Link open in a new window)


Recent Publications


Victims’ Code of Practice: A Guide for Victims

Consultation - March 2005

This document is designed to provide victims with an easy to read guide to their rights under the forthcoming Victims’ Code of Practice. As with the latest version of the Code, this guide will be subject to a full three month consultation exercise with the deadline for responses being 30 May 2005.

We are very keen to get your views on the following questions:

Does this Guide give you clear information about your rights as a victim of crime?

In what ways do you think this Guide could be improved?

The annex to the Guide tells you where you can find more information about support available for victims of crime. When the Guide is published in its final form it will also provide space for some local contact details (for example a Witness Care Unit telephone number).

What other useful information do you think should be available or signposted in the Guide? Background information on the Code of Practice and full details of the consultation process are contained in the main consultation paper. Please send your responses to this consultation document to:

Lisa Vernon

Office for Criminal Justice Reform, 1st Floor, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P4DF

Tel: 020 7035 4951 - Lisa.Vernon@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk


victims_guide.pdf  Download Acrobat Reader (Link open in a new window)


Securing your car stereo


Grub Screws

On Thursday 5th May 2005, a process of target hardening of CD players across Knowsley will commence. This will involve the fitting of four grub screws into the holes on the CD player where the ‘u’ clips are fitted to extract it.

This initiative is aimed at making the stealing of the CD player more time consuming for the thief. The ‘u’ clips will not be able to fit in the holes until the screws have been taken out increasing the time required to steal.

Neighbourhood Wardens will be in the Asda Superstore car park on Friday 20th May fitting grub screws to car radios.

Details of times, dates and locations of further initiatives will be published on this site soon.

The Knowsley Initiative will not just focus on residents of Knowsley with Ford motor vehicles, but also on people who don’t live in Knowsley but work in the area, hence the response will be categorised as public and business.

This Initiative will run until all supplies of grub screws and data tags have been exhausted or all relevant Ford vehicles have been target hardened, it is anticipated that the process could run as long as three months, it will be continually monitored during this time.

Peoples Ford

On Monday 16th May 2005, a press release will inform owners of Ford vehicles to take their vehicles to Peoples Ford in Prescot, who will fit grub screws or Data tags to the CD players free of charge

Merseyside Police will supply Peoples Ford with grub screws and Data tags free of charge.