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]

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, a former charity director, 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 from June 2019 to September 2022,^[11] was Dame Vera Baird. Newlove was reappointed as interim Commissioner in October 2023.^[12] She died whilst in office in November 2025 at the age of 63, following a short illness.^[13] Subsequently, Claire Waxman was appointed as Victims' Commissioner and commenced the role in January 2026.^[14][15]