What can be done to help victims to manage and reduce
their fear?
- Give them proper support.
Set up a fast and
efficient referral system to Victim Support, and make sure
that victims know what help is available and how to access
it. If intimidation is an issue, work with the Local
Authority and Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) to
make getting them re-housed a priority. If they’ve been
incapacitated by crime, get them help to fill out all the
necessary paperwork they might need to claim the relevant
benefits and / or payments from the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority. If they live alone or appear to be
quite isolated, work with local organisations and
charities to offer them a befriending service, or put them
in touch with other people from a similar background or
with similar experiences to talk to. Don’t forget about
the support which can be given by the rest of their
community.
If they are appearing as a witness, put them in touch
with the local witness service. Their staff and
volunteers will be available to offer practical and
emotional support. To find out where your local witness
service is based go to www.victimsupport.org/contacts/nats_home.html
- Help them to feel that justice is being done.
Already,
a number of initiatives are being put in place to bring
significantly more offenders to justice as part of the ‘Narrowing
the Justice Gap’ target that has been set for LCJBs. For
more information on Narrowing the Justice Gap, go to: www.cjsonline.org/njg/
You might also want to explore how restorative
justice can be used to empower victims and give them
more of a voice in the process. The Home Office has
published a restorative justice strategy exploring the
subject in detail. For a full version of the document,
go to:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/workingoffenders42.htm
- Keep them informed.
Let them know what’s
happening with their case so they don’t get any nasty
surprises sprung on them. Also, take the time to go
through court procedures with them so that they know what
to expect and consequently don’t feel too intimidated to
give evidence.
- Encourage people to report crimes.
Take the time
to listen to victims and take them seriously when they do
come forward to report crimes. Word of mouth is the most
important factor in changing people’s perception of the
CJS. Once others see that victims are treated courteously
and that their concerns about intimidation and retaliation
are being addressed, more people will be willing to report
crimes. In turn, this will lead to more offences being
brought to justice, improving victim’s confidence in the
system and leading to yet more people coming forward to
report crimes.
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