Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced the appointment of Andrea Simon as London’s next independent Victims’ Commissioner, a role tasked with championing the rights and interests

of victims of crime across the capital.

Simon brings more than two decades of experience in victim advocacy, human rights and criminal justice reform. She takes up the post after five years as director of End Violence Against Women (EVAW), a national coalition representing more than 160 women’s organisations, researchers and survivors working to end violence against women and girls (VAWG).

During her tenure at EVAW, Simon led successful campaigns that delivered significant changes in law and policy to improve outcomes for victims. Most recently, the organisation helped secure reforms to make rape trials fairer by limiting the use of victims’ counselling records and previous experiences of sexual violence in court. Her work has also focused on prevention and tackling inequalities faced by victims within the justice system.

Simon has played a prominent role in shaping policing and victim support in London. She is a founding member of the Mayor’s London Policing Board, established in 2023 to oversee the Metropolitan Police and scrutinise victim support, and she co-chairs the London VAWG Board, coordinating efforts to make the capital safer for women and girls.

Her national influence includes serving on the independent panel advising the Government’s 2024 Sentencing Review and on the reference group for the Angiolini Inquiry following the murder of Sarah Everard. She has also worked closely with MPs and campaigned extensively on issues including women’s safety, child trafficking and modern slavery.

The role of London’s Victims’ Commissioner was created in 2017 to ensure victims’ voices are central to policing and the wider criminal justice system. Simon succeeds Claire Waxman OBE, whose tenure saw reforms to the Victims’ Code, contributions to major legislation including the Domestic Abuse Bill, and the creation of Operation Soteria, now a national programme to transform the response to rape. Waxman has left the post to become the new National Victims’ Commissioner.

In her new role, Simon will work alongside the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to amplify the voices of victims, press for improvements in law and policy, and ensure all agencies across London deliver high-quality care and support.

Andrea Simon will formally take up her position as London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner on 2 March 2026.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:  “I am delighted to announce Andrea Simon will be London’s new independent Victims’ Commissioner. Andrea brings an incredible wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the role and she will stand up for survivors of crime across the capital, making sure their voices are heard and that their needs are at the heart of the work of the Met and the wider criminal justice system.

“Since creating the post of London’s Victims’ Commissioner in 2017, we have made important steps towards ensuring we have a justice system that works for all. I know that Andrea is committed to being a strong voice for victims of crime and will work tirelessly to help reform the criminal justice system so that it supports victims every step of the way, as we continue building a fairer, safer London for everyone.”

London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Andrea Simon, said: “It’s a privilege to be taking up the role of Victims’ Commissioner for London. I've worked to improve responses to victims of some of the most life changing crimes over the past decade, firstly victims of child trafficking and exploitation, and then for victims of violence against women and girls. It is critical that all victims receive the responses they are entitled to when they report crime, but this is too often not the case particularly for those from more marginalised communities.  I remain committed to working to tackling structural barriers to accessing justice, and ensuring all victims have their rights respected and upheld.” Photo by UN Women, Wikimedia commons.