<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">With effect from 1 October 2025, the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 will void any provisions in non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), settlement agreements and confidentiality agreements which purport to prevent a victim of crime, or someone who reasonably believes they are a victim, from making disclosures about criminal acts to certain categories of people. Current law already prohibits provisions that prevent whistleblowing disclosures or reporting a crime to police. The new law widens this prohibition to include close family members and victim support services. Disclosures will also be permitted to police and other bodies with powers to investigate criminal conduct (including the FCA and the Information Commissioner’s Office), lawyers, regulated professionals (including healthcare workers, social workers and teachers) and certain regulators. Draft regulations have been put before Parliament to add the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to these categories. Employers should note the wide definition of a victim, which includes an employee who has suffered harm as a result of having seen, heard of or otherwise directly experienced the effects of criminal conduct. There is no requirement for a conviction or a formal investigation to have taken place, or for the crime to have been reported. These changes highlight the need for caution when using NDAs and confidentiality clauses. Employers should also check that any template agreements expressly carve out all permitted disclosures.</p>