A new approach to supporting victims introduced by Staffordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner will put the needs of victims at the heart of the criminal justice system across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.Supporting victims and witnesses is one of four key priorities in Matthew Ellis’ Safer, Fairer United Communities strategy for more local and effective policing in the county.
A Citizens Advice Bureau consortium led by Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent CAB won a three-and-half-year contract to develop the Staffordshire Victim Gateway which will offer free advice and support to victims, witnesses and their families.
From today (1 September) this will replace the current regional general support service delivered from Birmingham by Victim Support.
Staffordshire is the first area across the country to pioneer the new CAB-led approach which is unique because it is based locally, offering a tailored service for victims.
For the first time support will be offered to ALL victims – not just those who report crime to police – which means the Gateway will double the number of people offered help from 23,000 to approximately 50,000 a year.
Victims will get timely advice and emotional and practical support in the way that suits them best, whether over the ‘phone or face to face.
Deputy PCC Sue Arnold, who is overseeing the service on behalf of the PCC, said: “Currently, the very services that are there to support victims and witnesses can be anything but user friendly, meaning the experience people have of the courts and criminal justice system can be as taxing and traumatic as the original incident.
“The Staffordshire Victim Gateway is a significant change that will fully focus attention on victims. It will make sure the system fits the victim rather than the victim having to fit around the system.
“The Gateway will put victims at the heart of decision-making, meaning that they are treated as individuals, and will avoid duplication by joining up multiple services regarding victims.
“This is about a whole-system approach across services to offer general and specific support to victims and witnesses. CAB is a well-respected organisation with considerable expertise in this area after winning the national contract for court-based witness services.
“The Gateway will also offer tremendous value for money because of the additional benefits victims will experience, such as better accessibility and local knowledge.”
A network of victim’s specialists launched last year to offer support to victims who are vulnerable, due to issues such as mental illness, domestic violence or hearing impairment. They will help manage a seamless transition between the Staffordshire Victims Gateway and specialist victim services.
CAB has centres covering all parts of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent which will provide support to victims as part of the contract.
Simon Harris, Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent CAB’s Chief Executive, said: “CAB is delighted to have been awarded this contract to deliver such an important service.
“Traditionally, a lot of people visiting CAB have experienced crime. From August, they will be able to come to us for support in that area as well as the other issues that they’re used to talking to us about.
“It’s an exciting development that allows us to build on the work which we have done for many years with victims of hate crime in Staffordshire and more recently working with the PCC’s office in hosting victims’ specialists to support vulnerable people.
“The new Gateway is a really good opportunity to extend the range of support that victims receive by giving them access to a broader range of advice and support delivered through CAB in partnership with experts from other organisations.”
Information about the Staffordshire Victim Gateway is available at www.staffsvictimsgateway.org.uk or by ringing 0330 0881 339.
