Sally Fox & Jan Bebbington
 Funding for providing victims services now held by the
PCC as of 2014 so that local services can be better
tailored to local need.
 The PCC in A&S prefers a police-led approach to the
assessment of victim need.
 Avon and Somerset are one of just 4 ‘early adopter’
areas who are path finders and have implemented a
specialised unit for Victim & Witness Care.
 From October 2014, the police are now responsible for
identifying vulnerable / intimidated / persistently
targeted victims at the front end, and assessing their
needs in accordance with VCoP.
 This will sit alongside a range of locally funded support
services to meet the more specialist victim needs. We
will have duty to ensure victims are referred to this
service as required.
Integrated Victim Care Programme
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The victim’s code of
practice (VCOP)
defines 4 distinct
‘cohorts’ of victims
who should qualify
for an ‘enhanced
service’ and referral
to support
Victims of the most serious crime




Domestic abuse
 Sexual offences
Hate crime
 Human trafficking
Wounding / causing grievous bodily harm with intent
Arson with intent to endanger life




Terrorism
Attempted murder
False imprisonment
Kidnap
Persistently targeted victims
A victim that has been targeted repeatedly as a direct victim of crime over a period of time; particularly if they
have been deliberately targeted; or they are a victim of a sustained campaign of harassment or stalking.
Vulnerable victims
All victims who are under 18 years of age at the time of the offence.
Victims whose quality of the evidence is likely to be affected because they:


suffer from mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983
have a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning

have a physical disability or is suffering from a physical disorder.
Intimidated victims
Victims whose quality of evidence may be affected because of fear or distress about testifying in court.
When assessing whether a victim is intimidated, the service provider must take account of:

behaviour towards the victim on the part of the accused, members of the family or associates of the
accused, and any other person who is likely to be an accused or witness in a potential court case

the nature and alleged circumstance of the offence to which a potential court case relates. Victims of a
sexual offence or human trafficking will automatically be considered to be intimidated

the victim’s age and, if relevant, the victim’s social and cultural background, religious beliefs or political
opinions, ethnic origin, domestic and employment circumstances.
Integrated Victim Care Programme
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“Seeing it all
together like this
makes you realise
how disjointed
our current
process is”
The ASCJB integrated victims
study found that a victim may
have contact with up to 30
different CJ professionals and
support organisations during
their journey to justice.
There were vast number of
roles / people involved in direct
contact with victims and
witnesses. All had a distinct
and valid purpose, but was
scope for simplifying the
landscape in some areas.
Integrated Victim Care Programme
CPS
complaints
coordinator
Court
Compensation
Dept
Probation
complaints
coordinator
OIC’s
colleague
Viper
Operative
OIC
Complaint
investigator
Victim
Advocate
Victim
Support
VCU
PSD
Victim &
Witness Liaison
Officer’s
colleague
Call
handler
Court
Clerk
CMU
SAIT
officer
Victim &
Witness Liaison
Officer
Skyguard
operative
Restorative
Justice
facilitator
Victim
Support
volunteer
SARC /
FME
Bobby
van
Restorative
justice
coordinator
Witness
Service trial
support
Instructed
Advocate
Witness
Service
PTV
FLO
IDVA
/ISVA
Probation
Victim
Liaison
Officer
Crime
Support
Officer
CPS
Lawyer
PNC
Bureau
CPS ‘DCV’
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What we’ve been doing:
 Detailed process mapping
 Victim consultation and focus groups
 Staff meetings and workshops
 Rapid Action Teams (x3)
 Dragons Den
 FPoC Pilot Team 1
 Lighthouse DV Pilot Bristol
Integrated Victim Care Programme
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Area Manager
(Bristol)
Area Manager
(North-East)
Area Manager
(Somerset)
Team Leaders
Team Leaders
Team Leaders
Victim & Witness Care
Officers
Victim & Witness Care
Officers
Victim & Witness Care
Officers
Team Support Officer
Team Support Officer
Team Support Officer
Partner agencies,
support
organisations,
volunteers,
restorative justice
practitioners
Partner agencies,
support
organisations,
volunteers,
restorative justice
practitioners
Partner agencies,
support
organisations,
volunteers,
restorative justice
practitioners
Integrated Victim Care Programme
 Fits within ‘Managing
People and Places’
alongside MASH, IRIS,
IMPACT
 Close links with
criminal justice
through co-location in
North and South
 Mobility and scope to
set up ‘spokes’
according to
operational need
 Service aligned with 3
main local policing
areas
 Integrated Restorative
justice ‘hubs’
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Victim & Witness Care Officer: single point of contact for victim
First Point of
Contact
First contact
(enhanced victims)
During
Investigation
(enhanced victims)
•Initial tier assessment –
•Vulnerable?
•Intimidated?
•Persistently targeted?
•Serious crime?
•=> ENHANCED
•Introductions, Risk /
needs assessment,
Contact Strategy,
Expectation
management / ‘What
happens next’, Crime
prevention advice &
target hardening
measures, Safety
planning, Safeguarding
referrals, Onward
referral to support for
those with ‘complex
needs’
•In liaison with OIC:
Maintain Risk / needs
assessment, Liaise with
partners to coordinate
support and contact,
ongoing expectation
management / ‘What
happens next’, victim
personal statements,
arranging RJ
interventions
During CJS
(all victims &
witnesses)
•Updates on progress,
Update risk / needs
assessment, warning
for court, practical
arrangements for court
attendance,
summonses, arrange
pre-trial visits, victim
personal statements,
special measures
applications, liaison
with OIC and partners
(Court, CPS etc),
onward referral to
Probation VCS, appeals,
RJ interventions
Management and support team = staff supervision, dealing with day-to-day tactical and
operational issues, attending partnership meetings (case progression, MARACs, PTPM etc),
development of service & building partnership arrangements, training /development of staff,
complaints handling and coordination, strategic leadership, responding to national policy guidance
and changes in legislation, voice to PCC and organisation, website management.
Integrated Victim Care Programme
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Better for
the Public
Simpler for
Staff &
Partners
Value for
Money
•
•
•
•
•
Victim service defined by need not offence type
Simplified referral mechanisms so victims have clearer route to access support
Fully compliant with Victim’s Code of Practice and EU Directive
Holistic management of offender and victim issues.
Clear links to safeguarding arrangements to ensure risks effectively managed
and escalated
• Reduced process silos that over-complicate the victim journey and create
confusion for staff
• Integrated Victim Care Team to retain continuity of contact with victims –
supporting OIC with obtaining statements as required
• Clarity over roles and responsibilities and clearer lines of accountability
• Co-location makes process more efficient – Integrated Support services
• Strong links between Integrated Victim Care and Safeguarding– ‘one team’ and
greater resilience
• A more cohesive multi-agency approach to reduce duplication and overlap; a
simpler victim journey
• Better problem solving and support arrangements to reduce repeat victimisation
and demand
• Gives the victim a chance to meet or communicate with their offender to
explain the real impact of their crime.
• Empowers victims by giving them a voice.
Holds offenders to account for what they have done and helps them take
responsibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrEApuJ-DTE
BRISTOL
RJ Co-ordinator
BRIDGWATER
RJ Co-ordinator
KEYNSHAM
RJ Co-ordinator
RJ Facilitator – Post Sentence
Integrated Victim Care Programme
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Thank you for listening!
Questions?