The victims of crime – among them bereaved families – and anti-social behaviour will benefit from additional support in their communities, the Home Secretary Theresa May announced this morning.
New funding of GB pound 1 million has been allocated for spending in numerous regions to ensure victims and witnesses are given a powerful local voice.
Commissioner for victims and witnesses Louise Casey is now due to work with national charity Victim Support on setting up a network of advocates who will:
- hear directly from victims and witnesses about their experiences through public meetings, links with victims’ groups, surveys and discussions with residents in high crime areas
- look at what is in place to help victims locally, whether victims can access these services and if all the victims that need help are receiving assistance
- set out what needs to be done locally to better protect and support victims
- make sure local crime and policing strategies reflect victims’ needs and priorities
When police and crime commissioners elected by the public are introduced next year, the chosen advocates will advise them on victims’ needs.
Blight on local communities
“Crime and anti-social behaviour blights communities and can make people’s lives an absolute misery, in some cases leading to tragic consequences,” explained the Home Secretary.
“I’m delighted this money will see victims better represented at a local level ahead of the introduction of police and crime commissioners, who will take forward this important work from May next year.”
Theresa May also stated that the coalitiong Government is currently consulting on new ways of tackling anti-social behaviour, including giving residents the power to compel local agencies to take action against repeat offenders.
Louder voice for victims
Louise Casey herself commented: “This is a real show of support from the Government. The role of police and crime commissioners has been designed to bring in much needed local accountability on crime and policing, and I welcome their clear obligation to represent the needs of victims of crime in the communities they will serve.”
Casey feels this new-found funding from the Home Secretary allows for the ground to be laid in advance of the arrival of police and crime commissioners to gauge what victims experiences are, what services are currently on offer and what more will need to be done.
“I hope that it means police and crime commissioners will arrive with the full picture on victims’ priorities and can make any changes needed on a swift basis,” added Casey.
“I believe this will mean that, in future, victims will then have a louder voice around the table of local crime and policing, where in the past it has often been neglected.”
The role of the Victims’ Commissioner is to promote the interests of victims and witnesses, encourage good practice in their treatment and regularly review the Code of Practice for Victims which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.
Louise Casey is the independent Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and promotes the interests of victims and witnesses across the criminal justice system and at the highest levels of Government.
Comment from Victim Support
Javed Khan, the chief executive of Victim Support, said: “Every day in communities across the country our dedicated volunteers and staff see the damage caused to people’s lives by crime and antisocial behaviour.”
“Too often, the voice of victims goes unheard by the criminal justice system. This new initiative will enable victims to have a greater say in local policing priorities and help ensure that the new police and crime commissioners are responsive to their needs.”
In conclusion, Khan told SMT Online: “We look forward to using our expertise in communities across the country to strengthen the voice of victims of crime and lead the network of advocates.”
Have your say
Meanwhile, a raft of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour have been unveiled by the Government.
Plans include powers to compel local agencies to investigate anti-social behaviour if it has been reported by several people or by the same person three times.
This so-called ‘community trigger’ forms part of a Government consultation.
The new plans would replace 18 of the formal powers currently available with just five.
You can contribute directly to the consultation by accessing the web link provided on the right hand panel of this page
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