We have written to the Lord Chancellor and the Ministry of Justice seeking urgent clarification on this point, we will keep you posted.

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Dear Sir,

Question for Robert Buckland QC in his capacity as Lord Chancellor

We read today of the new Victims Code which goes live today, April 1.

Our specific concern comes under 'Right 2' - To have the details of the crime recorded without unjustified delay.

Within that provision there is this:

'2.8. If you are a victim of sexual violence, gender-based violence or domestic abuse, you have the Right to request that the police officer conducting the interview is of a gender of your choice. The police must meet your request unless doing so would prejudice the fairness of the proceedings. If this happens, the police will tell you why'.

The report uses the words sex and gender and therefore implies an understanding of the difference between these terms. A victim of sexual violence, in many cases a woman, should have the right to be interviewed by another women if she so wishes. In other words, she should have the 'Right to request that the police officer conducting the interview is of a SEX of her choice'

• Could you please clarify whether this is the intention of the Code and whether a correction will be made?
• Or by using the term gender, is your intention that a female victim of sexual violence should have to accept interview by a biological male if he identities as a woman, without further recourse?

The full code is here.

Thank you,

ConservativesforWomen