The regulations specified the roles of independent domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking advocates, and mandated the Secretary of State to issue guidance on these roles.

The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025, enacted under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, specify the roles of independent domestic violence advisors, independent sexual violence advisors, and independent stalking advocates.

These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to provide guidance on these roles, aiming to enhance support services for victims of crime. The regulations have a staggered implementation, with most provisions coming into force on May 9th, 2025, and one specific regulation effective February 2nd, 2026.

The legislation clarifies the responsibilities of these support roles, drawing existing legal definitions from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Specific provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 were brought into force on various dates in 2024 and 2025.

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025 bring into force several provisions of the 2024 Act.

These include amendments to the power to alter release on license criteria for specific prisoners, changes to offences relevant to public protection decisions, and the introduction of mandatory guidance for defined victim support roles.

The regulations stipulate different commencement dates for these provisions, ranging from the day after their making to May and June 2025.

The regulations apply to England and Wales, and the Explanatory Note confirms no significant impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.