Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has launched a multi-million pound service for victims of crime.
The Victim Care Hub, designed and funded by the Commissioner, is a brand new approach to supporting victims across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary area.
Four Victim Care Hubs
Four Victim Care Hubs have been embedded in police stations geographically spread across the two counties bringing policing and support for victims under one roof for the first time.
The Hubs provide emotional and practical support to victims and will guide them through the criminal justice process, enabling the police to focus on frontline duties and reduce demand on the 101 service.
The service, delivered by national charity Victim Support was unveiled at a launch event on Tuesday 27th February.
Supporting the Victims Code
The innovative new approach reaffirms the Commissioner’s ambition to deliver the best possible service to victims of crime in line with the Victims Code.
Victims will be able to receive emotional and practical support and information such as case updates, coordinated victim care, options for restorative justice, and support throughout the process of reporting a crime and seeing it through the criminal justice processes.
The Victim Care Hubs are open to anyone of any age at any time, and victims do not have to report to police to access the service. The support is open to anyone who needs help to cope and recover from the impact of crime, including family and community members.
Essential that victims receive the right support
The PCC has commissioned the service because she recognises that it is essential victims receive the right support and information at the right time irrespective of whether they have reported to the police, when the offence occurred or when they feel ready to address the trauma they have experienced.
The hubs are staffed by Victim Support teams and specialist support from providers commissioned by the PCC who focus on providing bespoke support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual crimes, as well as support for children and young people.
Jones: Allowing for greater collaboration
PCC Donna Jones said,
“As Commissioner, I am committed to finding ways to improve the police service for those living in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
“From the thousands of conversations I have had with the public it was clear to me I needed to overhaul the approach to victim care. Not only to ensure victim’s rights are met, but to also fulfil my mandate to the public by increasing police effectiveness by reducing the demand on officers and the 101 service to provide updates to victims, and putting that care in the hands of specialist professionals.
“The criminal justice service can be complex and victims need a guiding hand to help them navigate the process easily. This new model will help free up officer time by reducing calls to 101 and time spent by police officers answering queries, and by assisting victims with investigation updates.
“The co-location of the services is key. The hubs are in police stations, staff are working alongside police officers and Witness Care Units. This will allow for greater collaboration and deliver my vision of a whole system approach to help victims cope and recover, and truly places victims at the heart of justice.”
Chaplain: Victims can access services regardless of whether or not they have reported to the police
Rebecca Chaplain, Area Manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight at Victim Support, said,
“We are thrilled to be delivering this much needed service for victims of crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This funding will allow us to build on the support we offer locally to include those aged under four.
“By working more closely with the police, we can ensure that victims receive regular updates on their cases. We also want victims to know that, as an independent charity, they can access our services regardless of whether or not they have reported to the police. We look forward to working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner, alongside other local charities, to deliver the best possible support to victims.”
News shared by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, in their own words. Ed
