Victims' Commissioner

The office of the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales (formally the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses) is an independent agency of the government of the United Kingdom sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. The role of the Victims' Commissioner is to promote the interests of victims and witnesses of crime, encourage good practice in their treatment, and regularly review the Code of Practice for Victims^[2] which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.^[3]

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses
Incumbent The Baroness Newlove since 16 October 2023
Appointer	Justice Secretary after consultation with Attorney General and Home Secretary
Constituting instrument	Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, s 48(1)
Inaugural holder	The Baroness Casey of Blackstock
Deputy	None
Salary	£108,000[1]
Website	https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/

The organization was created, and its role and remit defined, under sections 48 to 53 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004^[4] as amended by section 142 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.^[5] The Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for appointing the Commissioner, after consulting the Attorney General and Home Secretary.^[6] The Commissioner must publish a report on the organization's work each calendar year.^[5]

Louise Casey was appointed as the first Victims' Commissioner in 2010,^[7] following the one-year appointment of Sara Payne as Victims' Champion.^[8] Her successor was Baroness Newlove, a Warrington-based community reform campaigner, who was appointed in 2012.^[9] The Commissioner appointed in May 2019,^[10] and in office 23 June 2019 to 30 September 2022,^[11] was Dame Vera Baird. Newlove was reappointed as interim Commissioner on 16 October 2023.^[12]