Website of the Department of Health

Mental Health Act 2007: guidance on the extension of victims' rights under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

As a result of the Mental Health Act 2007, from 3 November 2008 victims’ rights under the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 will be extended to victims of offenders who are detained, or on supervised community treatment, as unrestricted patients under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This will involve new duties on hospital managers, responsible clinicians, approved mental health professionals and on NHS bodies who fund treatment of such patients in the independent sector.

• Download Mental Health Act 2007 - Guidance on the extension of victims rights under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (PDF, 197K)