Approximate read time: 35 minutes
The Victims and Courts Bill would introduce a range of criminal justice reforms. The bill includes provisions to compel offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, restrict parental responsibility for certain sex offenders, enhance powers for the victims’ commissioner, expand the eligibility criteria for the appointment of crown prosecutors, and extend the time limit for the Attorney General’s Office to review cases under the unduly lenient sentences scheme. The government has said the bill would support its mission to rebuild the justice system.
The government introduced the bill in the House of Commons on 7 May 2025. It was debated at second reading on 20 May 2025. Committee stage took place over five sittings between 17 and 24 June 2025 where only technical government amendments were made to the bill. The government introduced 14 amendments including two new clauses at report stage, which took place on 27 October 2025. All government amendments were agreed to. No non-government amendments were made to the bill during its journey through the House of Commons. The bill is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 16 December 2025.
Whilst MPs have largely supported the bill, some have urged the government to go further in some areas. This included amendments seeking to increase the time limit for victims when making an unduly lenient sentences scheme application to the Attorney General’s Office, and enabling victims to access free court transcripts. Criminal justice stakeholders, membership bodies, academics, charities and campaign groups have also called on the government to amend the bill in several ways, including to introduce a statutory defence for victims and survivors of domestic abuse who are coerced to offend.
The government published updated explanatory notes to accompany the version of the bill introduced in the House of Lords. It has also published a human rights memorandum, together with a series of factsheets and impact assessments.
Image credit: Michael D Beckwith
