Victim Notification Scheme

 

The Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) is a statutory scheme, which came into force on 1 November 2004 and provided victims of offenders who had been sentenced to 4 years or more with the right to receive information about the offender's progression within prison and eventual release. On 15 May 2008, the VNS was extended to include offenders who have been sentenced to 18 months or more. Victims can apply to join the scheme regardless of when the crime was committed.

Who can take part in the Scheme?

Our partners in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) usually identify the current cases where there are eligible victims. Typically, these apply to cases where the offender has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 18 months or more, including life sentences, detention without limit of time and extended sentences where the total of the custodial term and the extension period amounts to 18 months or more for a crime of violence, a sexual or indecent crime, a crime involving firearms, housebreaking and a hate or fire raising crime. COPFS or the Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service will write to the victim with the appropriate forms to complete and return to the SPS.

For a full list of individuals who are eligible to join the scheme, please refer to the Guidance booklets for Short Term Offenders and Long Term, Short Term Sex Offenders. Retrospective victims can apply direct to SPS by writing to the SPS Headquarters or via a confidential email address vns@sps.pnn.gov.uk. The SPS will make enquiries with COPFS to ensure that the victim(s) are eligible to join the scheme.

There are no formal time limits for opting into the VNS, and the victim can send the appropriate form or apply to the SPS at any time until the offender's sentence expires.