Part 3Victims etc

Chapter 3Other matters relating to victims etc

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

C149General functions of Commissioner

1

The Commissioner must—

a

promote the interests of victims and witnesses;

b

take such steps as he considers appropriate with a view to encouraging good practice in the treatment of victims and witnesses;

c

keep under review the operation of the code of practice issued under section 32.

2

The Commissioner may, for any purpose connected with the performance of his duties under subsection (1)—

a

make proposals to the Secretary of State F1for Justice for amending the code (at the request of the Secretary of State F1for Justice or on his own initiative);

b

make a report to the Secretary of State F1for Justice;

c

make recommendations to an authority within his remit;

d

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

e

consult any person he thinks appropriate.

3

If the Commissioner makes a report to the Secretary of State F1for Justice under subsection (2)(b)—

a

the Commissioner must send a copy of the report to the Attorney General and the F3Secretary of State for the Home Department;

b

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F54

The Commissioner must prepare in respect of each calendar year a report on the carrying out of the functions of the Commissioner during the year.

5

The Commissioner must send a copy of each report prepared under subsection (4) to—

a

the Secretary of State for Justice,

b

the Attorney General, and

c

the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

6

Reports under subsection (2)(b) or (4) must be published by the Commissioner.

7

If section 48 comes into force after the beginning of a calendar year, the first report under subsection (4) may relate to a period beginning with the day on which that section comes into force and ending with the end of the next calendar year.