Service helps 60,000 crime victims a year
ANEW service is set to help an estimated 60,000 people a year who have fallen victim to crime in Lancashire.
For the first time, Lancashire Victim Services will bring together services for those traumatised by sexual abuse, hate crime, domestic abuse and repeat antisocial behaviour.
Responsibility for victim services in Lancashire transferred to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office in April 2015 and commissioner Clive Grunshaw worked to establish Lancashire Victim Services straight away, before launching the new service at a briefing event for partners and stakeholders in Accrington earlier this month.
The launch follows two years of developing a service model to meet the needs of all victims in Lancashire.
The commissioner invited bids from interested organisations to deliver a new, integrated service across the county and, following a legal tender process, the contract to deliver the service was awarded to Victim Support.
The new model provides four multi-crime teams across the county, made up of domestic violence advisors, sexual violence advisors, children and young people and hate crime case workers and independent victim advocates.
There is also a new central management operations hub at the Globe Centre in Accrington.
Clive Grunshaw said: “Lancashire Victim Services has done a fantastic job in supporting victims of crime since I first established the service in 2015.
“Up to now the service has supported around 40,000 people a year and, thanks to the new contract, we will be able to help another 20,000 Lancashire residents each year.
“The new service model provides a single access point for victims of crime across the county, mak- ing it easier for them to get the help they need.
“Specialist services provide tailored support and counselling to ensure the most vulnerable in our communities are able to move forward and recover.”
Ellen Miller, victim services director at Victim Support, said: “No one should feel alone or unsupported after being the victim of crime.
“Because of the investment from different parts of Lancashire’s public sector, every victim of crime, whether they report it to the police or not, can be confident that there are charities here who really understand how crime can affect all parts of your life, and who have got the experience and the infrastructure to provide support that works.
“We don’t ration our support, and we don’t make judgements – we just want people to know we’re there to help them cope and recover, so they can move beyond crime.”
Anyone affected by crime can call Lancashire Victim Services on 0300 323 0085, email info@lancashirevictimservices.org or visit www.lancashirevictimservices.org.