A new way for victims of crime to speak directly to police officers handling cases has launched across Thames Valley Police and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary
A ground-breaking new way for victims of crime to speak directly to the police officer handling their case has been successfully launched across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and Thames Valley Police.
Victim’s Portal
The innovative Victim’s Portal will enable people who have reported a crime to check the status of the investigation, get updated as their case progresses, and message the officer in charge of their case (OIC), all through a link on their phone or computer.
As a victim of crime you have to receive an email or text message inviting you to the portal, this is not something you just go online and sign up for without an invite following reporting of certain crime types.
Thames Valley Police and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary are the first forces in the UK to offer victims this service.
How it works
After someone reports a crime to 101 or 999, or via our website, they receive a link to use the Portal to check the status of the investigation. They can also find the name and collar number of the OIC handling their case and their crime reference number.
To request an update, the victim can choose to use the new two-way messaging function to contact their OIC directly.
This is a completely new option for communication between frontline officers and victims of crime.
Those who do not have access to the technology will still be able to contact us in the usual ways.
Access key information
The Victim’s portal enables victims to access key information in one place such as their crime report, victim rights and the support services that are available to them.
The Portal has already proved popular with our communities, in Thames Valley, 4,716 victims have logged on 18,475 times since it launched on 19th September 2023.
In Hampshire 4,527 users logged in to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Portal 18,462 times since it first launched on 2nd August 2023.
In current use
The two-way messaging function has been live across both forces since 7th February 2024, and already over 800 messages have been passed between victims and police across both forces.
Currently, the portal is not available for all crime types but as this is a new system we are trialling this service using around 50% of our crime types that meet certain risk criteria.
Dodds: A trailblazing piece of new technology
Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds, Head of Contact Management for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said,
“This is a trailblazing piece of new technology, putting victims at the heart of what we do, which is a priority for us.
“We know that being a victim of crime can be a really traumatic time, so we are trying to make this process as easy as possible for our victims.
“Feedback from victims so far has been very positive, with many saying how easy the Portal is to use, and that they are pleased to have that personal contact method.
“Instead of going through our 101 call handlers to request contact, victims now have a direct line of communication to the heart of their investigation.
“This will increase support for those who need it most, while dramatically reducing the demand on our 101 and 999 service.
“We understand though that some people prefer to use the more traditional ways to speak to us, so we don’t want those people to worry, those methods will not stop, this just provides another option for those people who would prefer to contact us using the latest technology because it is more convenient for them.”
Jones: A significant milestone in the Constabulary’s commitment
PCC Donna Jones added,
“I am thrilled to welcome the launch of the force’s new Victims Portal. It marks a significant milestone in the Constabulary’s commitment to providing victims with the support and care they deserve.
“Since becoming Commissioner in 2021, the public told me unreservedly they wanted feedback on their crime reports and for the 101 service to be more effective.
“Now, with the new Victim’s Portal, victims won’t feel they need to call 101 to chase updates on their case, which will free up the phone lines for people to report crime. The 101 waiting time has already significantly reduced over the last six months.
“The portal is crucial part of my all-encompassing Victim Care Hub, which places victims at the forefront of investigations and ensures they are offered emotional and practical support to help guide them through the criminal justice process.”
News shared by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, in their own words. Ed
