Agenda item

To receive a presentation regarding developments in the arrangements for support provided to victims of crime.

Tessa Newton, from Victim Support, provided the Panel with an overview of the support arrangements for victims of crime.

The Panel noted that the grant funding from the Ministry of Justice for Victim Support had been divided and would be allocated to local Police Crime Commissioners from April 2015 to commission local services to victims. In London, this role was undertaken by the MOPAC, who had been an early adopter of the new budgetary arrangements.  A grant had been awarded to Victim Support to run a revised victim service for London from October 2014 for 12 months.  As part of this, there were now new processes for Enhanced Priority and Standard Referrals.  There was a particular focus on vulnerable and repeat victims.  In addition, there were now new services for children and young people and international visitors.

Referrals were now received for all victims of crime, including crime types not previously funded for support, such as business crime and motor vehicle theft.  Referrals were either categorised as enhanced priority or standard.  The service that was offered as part of the enhanced service was much more intensive.  Vulnerable victims were automatically offered enhanced support.  In addition, the service was looking at the factors that could make people vulnerable. 

There were a number of specific projects that were being undertaken in Haringey.  These included projects focussed on support for young victims and people not engaging with the Police.  Referrals generally came from the Police.  Young people heard about the service from the Police.  However, Victim Support was not as well known as some other charities.  Other boroughs did not currently have the same approach as Haringey, which aimed to be proactive in engaging with young people.

The support provided could include emotional support as well as advocacy.  Information could also be provided about the criminal justice system as well as compensation.  In particular, victims were prepared for court by working with them so that they knew what to expect.  They were also taken through what rights and options that they had. 

The Panel noted that the Metropolitan Police had the lowest victim satisfaction rate of any Police service in the country.  Ms Newton commented that the situation in Haringey was no different to anywhere else in London.  The service could act as a go between with victims and the Police and, if necessary, advise them on making a complaint.   The Panel noted that current victim satisfaction rates were had increased in the previous year to 84%.  [c1] 

Ms Newton reported that the Mayors Office were now funding a pan London domestic violence service which would provide additional resources to fund Independent Domestic Violence Advocates in the borough in order to provide greater support and more consistent support for victims.  In addition, Victim Support in Haringey was working with colleagues in Hackney on a specific project focusing on Anti Social Behaviour.   70% of referrals in respect of anti social behaviour came from organisations other then the Police.  Victim Support was now also funded to provide support for victims of business crime, which had not previously been the case.  As part of this, there would be a new worker who would be working with businesses in the Wood Green area. 

The Panel thanks Ms Newton for her presentation.