A tailored service which helps victims in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent recover from the impact of crime and the harm they have experienced has secured funding for another three years.
The Victim Gateway service forms part of an integrated system of support which is accessible, simple to navigate and prevents victims having to repeat their story on multiple occasions.
Commissioned by Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis with an investment of £2,247,000 over the next three years, the free service is delivered by Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent and CAB Staffordshire South West.
Staffordshire was the first area in the country to pioneer the unique CAB-led approach in 2015, which is based locally and offers a tailored service for victims, including:
- A Victim Gateway service to act as the ‘front door’ to support victims, regardless of whether the crime has been reported to the police or not
- A timely, consistent and reliable range of free restorative justice services to support victims at all stages of the criminal justice process, with interventions before court proceedings, following a court appearance or at the post-sentence stage.
The Victim Gateway model was developed in Staffordshire to provide a comprehensive service, providing information, advice, guidance, signposting and one-to-one support to victims of crime. The service also makes onward referrals to highly specialist support agencies.
The service has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of victims, crime types, society and partner agencies. By being at the forefront and embracing those changes, the service is able to maintain its victim-focused approach.
The Gateway has already supported victims from high-profile cases including the West Midlands breast surgeon case and the Manchester Arena bombing.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said: ‘These services are so, so important. We must make it easier for victims to get the support they need, when they need it.
‘The focus on ensuring that victims and their families are supported in a way that recognises their individual circumstances and needs, and places them at the very heart of the criminal justice process, is crucial and right. That is what we are doing.’
Supporting Victims and Witnesses is one of five key priorities included within the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Safer, Fairer and United Communities Strategy (2017-2020).
Find out more about the Victim Gateway service.
