M
Member
Speaking in the House of Lords on 10 March 2026
Debate
Victims and Courts BillContribution
10: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—
“Application of the victims’ code in respect of victims of murder, manslaughter or infanticide abroad(1) The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 is amended as follows.(2) After section 4, insert—“4A Application of the victims’ code in respect of victims of murder, manslaughter or infanticide of a close family member abroad(1) This section relates to victims as defined under section 1(2)(c) who are close family members of a British National resident in England and Wales who was the victim of— (a) murder,(b) manslaughter, or(c) infanticide,committed outside the United Kingdom.(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations issue an appendix to the victims’ code, setting out how the code applies to victims in the circumstances set out in subsection (1).(3) The appendix must set out the services to be provided to victims as defined under subsection (1) by those persons based in England and Wales appearing to the Secretary of State to have functions of a public nature relating to—(a) victims, or(b) any aspect of the criminal justice system.(4) The appendix must make provision for services based in England and Wales which reflect the principles that victims require—(a) information to help them understand the criminal justice process,(b) access to services within England and Wales which provide them with emotional and practical support (including, where appropriate, specialist services),(c) in circumstances where the criminal justice process is engaged in England and Wales, the opportunity to make their views heard in the criminal justice process, and(d) the ability to challenge decisions which have a direct impact on them.(5) In setting out the services to be provided to victims under this section, the Secretary of State must specify the following—(a) how such services will be provided with accessible information;(b) how they access emotional and practical support.””Member's explanatory statement
This new clause requires the Secretary of State to create an appendix to the Victims’ Code which outlines how the code applies to victims whose close relative was the victim of murder, manslaughter or infanticide outside the UK.
About Hansard
Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.
Partner sites