Residents in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands will soon notice a series of new digital advertisements featuring QR codes appearing on mobile phones, digital billboards, and public transport. This initiative, led by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, aims to increase awareness of victims' rights across the region.
The campaign, scheduled to run throughout September and October, follows a recent survey revealing that only 2.5 per cent of nearly 1,000 West Midlands residents demonstrated any knowledge of the Victims' Code - a legal framework that has existed for over two decades. The Victims' Code outlines the rights and minimum standards of service that victims of crime should expect from criminal justice agencies.
Key provisions of the Code include the right to have crimes recorded promptly and accurately, to receive information when reporting offences, to be referred to victim support services, to make victim personal statements, and to lodge complaints if these rights are not honoured.
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In response to these ‘concerning’ findings, the campaign’s adverts will carry the message, ‘Victim? Don’t lose sight of your rights,' and many will include QR codes linking directly to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s webpage dedicated to the Victims' Code.
Speaking about the survey results, Simon Foster expressed his deep concern: “It is deeply troubling that, twenty years after the Victims' Code was introduced, only a small fraction of people know about it. The Code exists to safeguard victims, survivors, and witnesses, ensuring they receive fair treatment and support, yet awareness remains alarmingly low.”
He emphasised the importance of respecting victims' rights within policing and the wider criminal justice system, stating, “Compliance with the Victims' Code is not optional. All agencies must uphold these standards to ensure compassion, dignity, and respect for every victim.”
The Commissioner highlighted that improving adherence to the Code is a central focus of his Police and Crime Plan for the next three years, affirming that “every victim deserves to feel supported and confident that their rights will be recognised.”
This forthcoming campaign seeks to deliver a clear message: victims have rights that must be acknowledged and enforced by all criminal justice agencies.