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Health Services: Malpractice

Answer

By law, the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) is available to the victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual or terrorism offences who are sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Victims who choose to participate in the Scheme are allocated a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO), who keeps them informed of key developments in the offender's sentence, including relevant prison categorisation reviews and release arrangements.

Where a prisoner is being considered for transfer to open conditions, prisons must establish whether there are any victims are engaged with the VCS and, if there are, inform their VLO. The VLO in turn notifies the victims, so that the victims have the opportunity to provide information about the potential risks of moving the prisoner to an open prison. The victims may also make representations about licence conditions, such as exclusion zones and non-contact requirements, in the event that the prisoner is subsequently approved for release on temporary licence.

The VCS provides the same statutory entitlements to all participating victims, regardless of the nature of the qualifying offence. Where an offender's release is considered by the Parole Board, victims may submit a Victim Personal Statement and apply to observe any oral hearing held by the Parole Board. Where an offender is released automatically at a statutory release point, without Parole Board involvement, victims cannot make representations to the Parole Board, because it plays no role in the release decision. In such cases, victims may still make representations regarding licence conditions.

The Sentencing Act 2026 contains provisions which will change the proportion of a standard determinate sentence which must be served in prison before the offender serving such a sentence is released automatically on licence. Those provisions will come into force on 2 September 2026 and may affect the scheduled release dates of those currently serving a standard determinate sentence. VLOs are notifying participating victims, including victims of Ian Paterson, where there is a conviction relating to them, they are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme and have chosen to receive the services provided under the Scheme. Further updates will be provided to confirm whether release dates have changed as a result of the new arrangements.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL1433

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Crimes of violence Convictions Health services Misconduct Victims Parole Board

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk