Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 16(1) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (“the Act”) provides that the Secretary of State must issue guidance about specified victim support roles. Section 16(3) of the Act sets out that “victim support roles” are roles performed by individuals which involve the provision of support to victims of criminal conduct (where the support relates to that conduct).

Pursuant to section 16(3) of the Act, “specified” means specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State. Taken together, sections 16(1) and (3) mean that, once a role is specified in regulations by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State will be required to issue guidance about that role. These Regulations specify victim support roles which the Secretary of State will now be required to issue guidance about under section 16(1).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen. Impact assessments have been published in relation to the Act (including section 16) and copies can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ, or from this website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/victims-and-prisoners-bill.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.