Two new free services have been commissioned for Staffordshire to support victims of anti-social behaviour and hate crime and help them recover from the harm caused, whether they choose to report incidents to the police or not.
Commissioned by Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams, the new ASB & Mediation Service and Hate Crime Service will both launch on 1 October and will cover Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The tailored, confidential services will act in the interest of victims at all times. They will form part of an integrated system of effective guidance and support for victims, from when they report the crime or incident or recognise that they need support, through to the victim exiting the service.
The services are designed to be accessible through a range of channels, simple to navigate and prevent victims having to repeat their story on multiple occasions.
The ASB & Mediation Service will receive £200,000 per year for the next three years, and will be delivered by Victim Support. Staffordshire is one of the first Police and Crime Commissioner areas nationally to invest in such a service.
The Hate Crime Service will receive an investment of £170,000 per year for the next three years, and will be delivered by the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Community Safety Partnerships across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are also contributing to both services through the Local Delivery Fund.
The new services will be open to people of any age, regardless of their residence status, citizenship or nationality, and will offer:
- A specialist support service, including tailored advice, guidance, information, practical and emotional support;
- Targeted awareness and education sessions within education settings and communities;
- Training and awareness sessions for professionals to improve their knowledge and understanding;
- Annual communication campaigns to improve access to each service.
- A mediation service providing confidential, impartial mediation between both or multiple parties (ASB only).
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: ‘It is essential that victims of hate crime and anti-social behaviour are able to access effective support, when they need it.
‘I am delighted that we will be providing support to people suffering due to ASB. ASB often requires the police to work closely with councils, housing associations and others to find a resolution. The distress caused can be considerable so this service in Staffordshire, one of the first nationally, will help to keep the needs of the victims foremost in the minds of our community safety partnerships.
‘No two individuals have the same experience when faced with ASB or hate crime so these new services are designed around their needs, providing vital practical and emotional support in a way that is tailored to each victim.’
Simon Harris, Chief Executive Officer at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North & Stoke-on-Trent, said: “We are delighted the Commissioner has chosen Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent to deliver the Hate Crime service across Staffordshire. This will allow us to build on the excellent work done so far and take it forward as an integral part of the support offered to victims through the Staffordshire Victim Gateway.”
Melina Hancox, Area Manager at Victim Support, said: ‘We are really excited to be able to finally launch a pan-area support service for victims of anti-social behaviour. We have supported these cases for many years and know only too well of the damage and impact prolonged ASB can cause to individuals and communities.
‘We hope our service can assist victims to effectively identify ASB, deal with its effects, seek the appropriate support and move forward with their lives. Making this service available across the area to work closely with local authority ASB teams and other partners will help us all to collectively tackle the problem.’
The Hate Crime Service and ASB & Mediation Service will operate across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent from 1 October, with an opportunity for a further two-year extension after the initial three years.
