Victims and Courts Bill

New Clause 13

Victims’ rights to make disclosures relating to criminal conduct

“For section 17 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (disclosures by victims that cannot be precluded by agreement) substitute—

(1) Any provision in an agreement is void in so far as it purports to preclude a victim, or a person who reasonably believes they are a victim, from making—

(a) an allegation of, or a disclosure of information relating to, relevant criminal conduct, or

(b) an allegation, or a disclosure of information, relating to the response of any other party to the agreement to—

(i) relevant criminal conduct, or

(ii) the making of an allegation or disclosure within paragraph (a).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to provision in an agreement (an “excepted agreement”) that satisfies such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations.

(3) But the Secretary of State may by regulations provide that any provision in an excepted agreement is void in so far as it purports to preclude the victim, or the person who reasonably believes they are a victim, from making an allegation or disclosure within subsection (1)(a) or (b)—

(a) to a specified description of person;

(b) for a specified purpose;

(c) in specified circumstances.

(4) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any other enactment or rule of law by virtue of which provision in an agreement may be void.

(5) Subject to subsections (6), (7) and (8), this section binds the Crown.

(6) This section does not apply to provision in an agreement entered into by His Majesty in his private capacity (within the meaning of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947).

(7) This section does not apply to provision in an agreement entered into by the Crown for the purposes of—