15FPolice and DPP to tell victims about victim impact

15F Police and DPP to tell victims about victim impact statement (1) A relevant justice agency must, within a reasonable period before a victim of an offence would be able to make a victim impact statement, tell the victim the following: (a) who may make a victim impact statement; (b) that a victim impact statement may be made orally or in writing; (c) what information a victim impact statement must and may include; (d) how a victim impact statement may be used in court during a proceeding, including that— (i) a copy of the victim impact statement will be given to the offender; and (ii) the victim may be cross-examined about the contents of the victim impact statement; and

(iii) the court must consider the victim impact statement in deciding how the offender should be sentenced. Note The Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005, pt 4.3 sets out the requirements for victim impact statements. A victim impact statement may only be made for an offence that is punishable by imprisonment for longer than 1 year (see that Act, s 48).