Victims' Commissioner

{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

| image = Baroness Newlove.jpg

| incumbent = The Baroness Newlove

| incumbentsince = 16 October 2023

| appointer = Justice Secretary

| appointer_qualified = after consultation with Attorney General and Home Secretary

| constituting_instrument = Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, s 48(1)

| precursor =

| inaugural = The Baroness Casey of Blackstock

| formation =

| deputy = None

| salary = £108,000{{cite web |title=Victims' Commissioner |url=https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/appointment/victims-commissioner/ |website=HM Government Public Appointments |publisher=HM Government Cabinet Office |access-date=9 June 2021}}

| website = https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/

}}

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{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales and supporting public information materials |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-code-of-practice-for-victims-of-crime |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/victims-commissioner|title=Victims' Commissioner - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}

The organization was created, and its role and remit defined, under sections 48 to 53 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004{{Cite web |title=Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, Part 3, Chapter 3 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/28/part/3/chapter/3/crossheading/commissioner-for-victims-and-witnesses |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk}} as amended by section 142 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.{{Cite web |title=Coroners and Justice Act 2009 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/section/142 |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=legislation.gov.uk}} The Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for appointing the Commissioner, after consulting the Attorney General and Home Secretary.{{Cite web |title=Role details – Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales |url=https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/2974 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=GOV.UK}} The Commissioner must publish a report on the organization's work each calendar year.

Louise Casey was appointed as the first Victims' Commissioner in 2010,{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7537582/Louise-Casey-appointed-as-Victims-Commissioner.html|title=Louise Casey appointed as Victims' Commissioner|work=Telegraph.co.uk|date=30 March 2010|access-date=2017-07-02|language=en}} following the one-year appointment of Sara Payne as Victims' Champion.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7850785.stm|title=Sara Payne new Victims' Champion|date=26 January 2009|website=news.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-07-02}} Her successor was Baroness Newlove, a Warrington-based community reform campaigner, who was appointed in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1028667/baroness-newlove-is-new-victims-commissioner|title=Baroness Newlove Is New Victims' Commissioner|date=21 December 2012|publisher=Sky News|accessdate=9 May 2013}} The Commissioner appointed in May 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/news/dame-vera-baird-appointed-as-new-victims-commissioner/|title=Dame Vera Baird appointed as new Victims' Commissioner|date=13 May 2019|website=Victims Commissioner|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-06-11}} and in office 23 June 2019 to 30 September 2022,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=About us |url=https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/about-us/the-commissioner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321003337/https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/about-us/the-commissioner/ |archive-date=21 March 2023 |website=Victims Commissioner |via=Internet Archive}} was Dame Vera Baird. Newlove was reappointed as interim Commissioner on 16 October 2023.{{Cite web |title=Interim Victims’ Commissioner appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/interim-victims-commissioner-appointed |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}