PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Victim Personal Statements (17 December 2018)

There is no requirement for victims, or anyone else on their behalf, to read out a victim personal statement in open court. There is a presumption that a victim should be allowed to read their statement in full if they wish to do so. However, whether the statement is read in open court, who reads it, and which sections of the statement are read, is at the discretion of the trial judge. A Joint Agency Guide to the Victim Personal Statement provides practical advice for criminal justice practitioners who might be involved in the process. It is publicly available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/victim-personal-statement