About my Victim Personal Statement
What is a Victim Personal Statement (VPS)?
The VPS is a statement that you can give to the police if you have been a victim of crime. It is different from the witness statement you may already have given about the crime, which is a written or video-recorded account of what happened. The VPS is a record of the personal impact that the crime has had on you and your family. It gives you a chance to explain, in your own words, how the crime has affected you – whether physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way.
Why is it important?
Your VPS is important because it will help everyone involved in the case – the police, the prosecutor and the court – to understand the impact that the crime has had on your life. This can help them to make important decisions about the case.
The VPS will form part of the case papers, so if your case goes to court, it will be sent to the defendant’s solicitor.
Can my VPS influence the sentence?
Sentencing is for the court to decide. However, the judge or magistrate will consider how the crime has affected your life when passing the sentence – along with all the other evidence in the case and the relevant sentencing guidelines.
Your (or your close relatives’) opinion on what you think the sentence should be will not be taken into account.
Will it make a difference to the case?
Your VPS is important and could make a difference to the case. It will help the criminal justice agencies involved in your case (like the police, prosecutor or courts), to understand how the crime has affected you. This can, in turn, inform decisions on whether to charge an alleged offender, or grant a defendant bail.
What can I say in my VPS?
You can say whatever you like about how the crime has affected you. For example, you might want to mention:
- Any physical or psychological injury you have suffered.
- If you feel vulnerable or intimidated.
- If you no longer feel safe.
- The impact on your family.
- How your quality of life has changed on a day-to-day basis.
- If you are worried about the alleged offender being given bail.
- If you feel that the crime was racially motivated or that your faith, sexuality or disability played a part in the crime.
- If you need additional support, for example because you are appearing as a witness at the trial.
- If you intend to claim compensation from the alleged offender for any injury, loss or damage you’ve suffered.
However, your VPS should not include your thoughts or opinion on how the alleged offender should be punished – this is for the magistrate or judge to decide.