Victims' Rights Act 2002

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12 Information about proceedings

  • (1) A victim must, as soon as practicable, be given information by investigating authorities or, as the case requires, by members of court staff, or the prosecutor, about the following matters:

    • (a) the progress of the investigation of the offence:

    • (b) the charges laid or reasons for not laying charges, and all changes to the charges laid:

    • (c) the victim's role as a witness in the prosecution of the offence:

    • (d) the date and place of each event listed in subsection (2):

    • (e) every final disposition of all proceedings (at first instance or on appeal (if any)) relating to the offence, for example—

      • (i) any convictions or pleas of guilty entered, and sentences imposed, in relation to the offence; or

      • (ii) any acquittal or deemed acquittal or finding that the charge was not proved; but not

      • (iii) whether the accused or offender is granted bail.

    (2) The events referred to in subsection (1)(d) are—

    • (a) the first appearance in court, in connection with the offence, of the person accused of the offence:

    • (b) any preliminary hearing relating to the offence:

    • (c) any defended hearing, or trial, relating to the offence:

    • (d) any hearings set down for sentencing for the offence:

    • (e) any hearings of appeals (if any) against conviction of the offence, or against the sentence imposed, or to be imposed, for the offence, or both.

    (3) Nothing in this section prevents information of a kind that, under this section, must be given to a victim of an offence, from also being given to any other person (for example, to a person who was disadvantaged by the offence).

    (4) In this section, investigating authorities means persons or bodies investigating the offence in the performance or exercise of their official functions, powers, or duties; but does not include a person exercising or performing functions, powers, or duties of a probation officer under the Criminal Justice Act 1985 or any other enactment.

    Compare: 1987 No 173 s 6