Criminal Law (Prohibition of the Disclosure of Counselling Records) Bill 2025

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

A person accused in trials for sexual offences, coercive control or intimate partner violence would no longer be able to get access to a complainant’s counselling records, and those records could not be shown to the court, prosecution or defence. The aim is to protect privacy and encourage victims to seek counselling and report abuse without fear that their most sensitive therapy notes will be exposed. It also says this change would not affect child-protection reporting duties.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 in the interests of balancing the right to privacy, the right to healthcare and the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prohibit the disclosure of counselling records in criminal proceedings in criminal trials for sexual offences; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 30 April 2025