Victim and Witness support
Victim & Witness Support
What is victim and witness support?
People who have been affected by crime are often left feeling
anxious and troubled. We can support them in a number of ways.
Sometimes just being there to listen and talk is valuable, but we
can also provide practical help with things like applying for
compensation, and keeping everyone fully informed about their case.
Our aim, sometimes working with other organisations, is to reassure
the victim or witness, and restore their confidence and sense of
security.
Support and advice for victims
If you have been attacked or if your home has been broken into,
there may long-lasting effects such as difficulty in sleeping,
being afraid to go out or avoiding the place where the crime
happened. This is not unusual, and we can help you to find advice
and counselling to help you. Anyone who is a victim of a crime has
a legal right to certain standard of service, set out in the Code
of Practice for Victims of Crime.
- You are entitled to be kept informed about progress in the
case, whether arrests have been made and when it may come to
court.
- The outcome of the trial should be explained to you, and you
should be told about any appeals that are granted.
- Bereaved relatives should always have a family liaison officer
assigned to look after their interests and well-being.
- You should be give clear advice about whether you are eligible
for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Board.
- You should be given details of your local Victim Support
organisation, and offered their help if you want it.
- If you are particularly vulnerable, or you have been
intimidated, you have the right to a higher level of service to
help you feel secure.
- You should be given the choice of opting in or our of all the
services you are entitled to, so that you get the service you
want.
Support and advice for witnesses
The information we get from victims and witnesses of crime is
essential in bringing criminals to justice, but we know that
appearing in court can be difficult and stressful. We have a
Witness Care Unit who work with people likely to be called as
witnesses. They assign a Care Officer to each case, and it is their
job to contact all the witnesses, answer any questions they have,
arrange any special support they need before, during and after
their appearance in court, and tell them about progress in the
case. If you are a witness in a crime that is coming to court, your
Witness Care Officer will be your point of contact for anything to
do with the case.
Other sources of help and advice
If you have been affected by crime, you may also find the
services listed in the More Information panel useful.
Couldn't find what you were looking for? Find more information in our
Frequently Asked Questions