The Parole Board. Working with others to protect the public.
Victims and families
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Your Victim Liaison Officer (VLO) will advise you of the Parole Boards decision. If the offender is going to be released you will be told about any licence conditions which affect you or your family. If the Parole Board decides to adopt different licence conditions to the ones you proposed, you will be advised of the Parole Boards reasons by your VLO. The Parole Board cannot discuss with you its decisions and the reasons for them. If the Parole Board has not accepted your views about the proposed licence conditions relating to you or your family, then it will give you an explanation for its decision.
The normal practice is for the victim, if attending in person, to read their statement to the panel at the start of the hearing. Once the victim has read the statement they will be asked to leave. The panel will then continue with the hearing.
If the victim is attending the hearing in person they may apply to be accompanied by a supporter. It is suggested that this should normally be the Victim Liaision Officer or a family member or friend.
You should take a copy of your Victim Personal Statement (VPS) and any other documents with you to the hearing. You should report to the prison reception and state that you are there to attend a Parole Board hearing. You will be asked to produce some form of photo-identification. You will be asked to leave personal items including mobile phones bags and wallets at the prison reception. You may also be asked to undergo searching and have your possessions screened with x- ray equipment, scanners and sniffer dogs before being admitted.
After your identity has been checked and you have gone through security screening, you will be collected from the reception area and escorted by prison staff to a waiting area until the Panel is ready to hear your statement. You will then be shown into the room where the hearing is taking place.
The normal practice is for the victim to read the statement at the start of the hearing. The victim will not be allowed to add anything to the contents of the written statement. The victim will not be questioned about the statement. Once the victim has read their statement they will be asked to leave. The panel will then continue with the hearing. Prison staff will escort you back to the reception area to collect your personal items and bags.
The attendance of the prisoner during the presentation of the VPS is a matter for them to decide unless the panel chair has ruled that he should not be present. The prisoner cannot be forced to attend.
Your statement can be given by video Live-Link or recorded on audio/video tape or DVD and played to the panel if facilities are available. The statement should be concise and not take more than about 10 minutes. The audio/video tape must be limited to a reading by the victim of the statement.
Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX
Telephone 0845 251 2220