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Victims and Courts Bill
Last updated: 12 February 2026 · Analysed: 15 February 2026
The Victims and Courts Bill introduces measures to strengthen victims' rights, including voiding non-disclosure agreements that conceal criminal conduct and expanding the Victims' Commissioner's powers. It grants courts the power to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings, mandates the restriction of parental responsibility for those convicted of serious sexual offences or rape resulting in conception, and reforms regulations regarding private prosecution costs.
📊 Impact Analysis
Economy
The bill is unlikely to have a significant macroeconomic impact, though voiding NDAs may marginally improve corporate transparency.
The provisions are primarily social and procedural within the criminal justice system, with no direct levers on productivity or GDP. However, the clause voiding non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to criminal conduct could have a second-order effect of improving corporate governance and reducing the ability of businesses to hide malpractice, potentially leading to a slightly more transparent business environment.
Government Finances
Administrative costs for probation and courts will rise, but the bill introduces mechanisms to cap state spending on private prosecutions.
The bill imposes new statutory duties on local authorities, courts, and probation services to track victims, provide information, and manage parental responsibility orders, which will increase operational costs. However, Section 12 explicitly limits costs payable out of central funds for private prosecutions to what is 'reasonably sufficient' and allows for regulatory caps, which is a cost-control measure designed to prevent the state from subsidizing expensive private legal actions.
Fairness & Justice
The bill significantly shifts the balance of the justice system to favour victims and protect children from abusive parents.
By mandating prohibited steps orders for serious sex offenders and those who conceive via rape, the bill prioritizes the safety of the child over the parental rights of the offender. Furthermore, voiding NDAs prevents the wealthy or powerful from buying silence regarding criminal acts, ensuring that contract law cannot be used to obstruct criminal justice or hide abuse.
Liberty & Autonomy
The bill restricts offender liberty and freedom of contract to enhance victim autonomy and accountability.
The bill authorizes the use of reasonable force to compel offenders to attend sentencing, a significant physical restriction on the liberty of the accused designed to ensure they face the consequences of their actions. Additionally, it restricts freedom of contract by rendering specific NDA clauses void; however, this restriction is justified as it restores the victim's autonomy to speak about criminal conduct.
Welfare & Quality of Life
Measures to keep victims informed and protect children are expected to reduce psychological trauma and improve safety.
The expansion of the victim notification scheme (regarding offender release, hospital discharge, etc.) provides victims with greater certainty and security, potentially alleviating anxiety. The automatic restriction of parental responsibility for serious sexual offenders directly safeguards the physical and emotional welfare of children who might otherwise be subject to the influence of their abusers.
Environment
The bill focuses exclusively on criminal justice and has no discernible impact on the environment.
The provisions relate entirely to court procedure, sentencing, victim support, and parental rights. There are no clauses affecting land use, emissions, energy policy, or environmental regulation.