Non-disclosure agreements will no longer legally be used to silence victims of crime or conceal criminal behaviour, the government said today, announcing an amendment to widen protection for people reporting crimes.
An amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill will repeal section 17 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and replace it with 'stronger, simpler protection allowing victims and direct witnesses of crime to disclose information about the conduct to anyone and for any purpose, not just to the bodies and for the purposes set out in the previous act,’ the government said.
The change will guarantee that victims and direct witnesses of crime - whether inside or outside the workplace - can share their experiences with anyone, for any purpose, including family, friends, employers and journalists, without fear of legal repercussions.
Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and tackling violence against women and girls, said: 'NDAs are too often used to sweep criminality under the carpet – trapping victims into silence and denying them justice. This must end. These changes will free victims from the murky world of confidentiality clauses, meaning they can speak to whoever they like about their experience without threat of legal action, helping them move on and rebuild their lives.'
The change aligns with reforms in the Employment Rights Bill, which will void NDAs designed to silence workers about work-related harassment or discrimination, the government said. In cases where both parties may genuinely wish for confidentiality about certain details, the amendment will therefore give the secretary of state powers to set criteria for 'excepted NDAs' in 'limited, legitimate circumstances'.
The Victims and Courts Bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Commons.
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