What is the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme?
If you’re not happy with this outcome of a crime investigation you can request your case to be formally reviewed by a senior police officer. This is known as victims’ right to review.
The Victims’ Right to Review Scheme gives victims of crime a Right to request a review of a police or Crown Prosecution Service decision not to prosecute, or to stop the case.
This applies to cases where an offence has occurred, a suspect has been interviewed and the police have made a decision to stop the investigation. It doesn’t cover crime-recording or those where enquiries have been discontinued.
You have the Right to request a review if the police decide:
- not to bring proceedings in cases where they have authority to charge; or where
- the case doesn’t meet the test for referring the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision.
Before making a request for Victim’s Right to Review
If the police decide not to prosecute the suspect, you generally have the Right to be told within 5 working days of the decision of:
- the reasons for the decision;
- how you can get further information;
- how to seek a review and make representations under the National Police Chiefs’ Council Right to Review scheme; and
- how to be referred to a support service.
How do I apply?
To request a formal review, you can contact the Criminal Justice Service, Victims’ Right to Review in the following ways:
Email: vrr@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Post: West Midlands Police Headquarters, Lloyd House, Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NQ, UK
In your request, you should include the following information:
- Your full name.
- Your postal address or email.
- The incident number.
- The location of the incident.
- The date you were informed of the police decision not to prosecute.
- Reasons you would like WMP to review the decision to not prosecute in your case.
