Raised in the Lords - Feb ’26
On 11th February 2026, Amendment 63 to the Victims and Courts Bill was debated in the House of Lords
Taking a brief, proud moment to appreciate seeing our MYH and Right to Be Reviewed logos in the House of Lords.
The amendment, tabled by Lord Russell of Liverpool and supported by Baroness Brinton, aimed to extend the period in which the CPS can discontinue a case in the Crown Court - bringing it into line with the Magistrates’ Court.
In simple terms, it would allow a Crown Court case to be discontinued and then reopened following a successful Victims’ Right to Review (VRR), if the CPS concludes it made an error in stopping the prosecution.
The Victims Commissioner, Claire Waxman is supporting reform in this area, recognising the need to strengthen the VRR scheme and address gaps that can leave some Crown Court victims without a meaningful route back when a case is stopped late in proceedings.
During the debate, peers acknowledged both the importance of the VRR and the need to carefully consider its wider implications. The Government said it would consider the proposal further as part of broader court reform discussions, including Sir Brian Leveson's recommendations.
The amendment was withdrawn at the Committee stage, so no final decision has been made.
What this means
This is not the end of the road. But it is a significant step. The issue has now been formally debated in Parliament and sits within the wider conversation about court reform. That gives it weight.
MYH position
At present, in some Crown Court cases, once proceedings reach a certain stage, there is no practical way to revive a prosecution - even if a VRR later finds the original decision was wrong.
This reform is about consistency and the ability to correct errors.
We will continue to engage constructively and keep the focus on ensuring that the VRR works fairly and effectively.
This moment matters. And the work continues.
Watch Lord Russell raise our amendment in the House of Lords - with thanks for bringing this issue into the chamber.
Appreciative of the support from Claire Waxman and independent government adviser Katrin Hohl in backing our call.
Honoured to share Victoria’s and Daria’s experiences of the VRR in the Lords - incredibly grateful that their stories helped shape this amendment for those who come after us. Huge appreciation for Baroness Brinton standing in support of this call for change.
This is how systems change - not overnight, but because people refuse to let the issue drop. And neither will we.
#RightToBeReviewed #MakeYourselfHeard
There’s still time to support the campaign to make the Victims’ Right to Review a permanent, national right.
You can help by writing to your MP, sharing why this reform matters, and following our campaign for updates and resources at @MYH_ldn - see links below
