Legislation – Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
Part 2Victims of major incidents
Appointment of advocates
35Appointment of standing advocate
1
The Secretary of State must appoint an individual as the standing advocate for victims of major incidents (in this Part, “the standing advocate”).
2
The functions of the standing advocate are—
a
to advise the Secretary of State as to the interests of victims of major incidents, and their treatment by public authorities in response to major incidents;
b
to advise other advocates as to the exercise of the functions of those advocates;
c
to make reports in accordance with section 41.
3
The standing advocate may take such steps as the standing advocate considers are—
a
appropriate to facilitate the exercise of, or
b
incidental or conducive to,
the functions of the standing advocate or another advocate.
4
An individual may be appointed as the standing advocate only if the Secretary of State considers that the individual is qualified, taking into account—
a
the individual’s academic, professional or other qualifications, experience or skills;
b
any other matter the Secretary of State considers relevant.
5
For the purposes of subsection (2)(a), “public authority” includes—
a
a court, tribunal, coroner, or inquiry panel within the meaning of section 3 of the Inquiries Act 2005, and
b
any other person certain of whose functions are functions of a public nature,
but does not include the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Headquarters.