Multi-million pound service for victims of crime launched in Hampshire by PCC Donna Jones
Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) has launched a multi-million pound service for victims of crime.
The victim care hub, designed and funded by PCC Donna Jones, is a brand new approach to supporting victims across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary area.
Four of these hubs have been embedded in police stations across the two counties, bringing policing and support for victims under one roof for the first time.
The hubs provide emotional and practical support to victims and will guide them through the criminal justice process, enabling the police to focus on frontline duties and reduce demand on the 101 service.
The £850,000 per year service, which was launched internally by the police at the beginning of the month and has funding until 2029, has already offered support to more than 4,000 victims of crime.
PCC Donna Jones said: “From the thousands of conversations I have had with the public it was clear to me I needed to overhaul the approach to victim care.
“The criminal justice service can be complex and victims need a guiding hand to help them navigate the process easily.
“This new model will help free up officer time by reducing calls to 101 and time spent by police officers answering queries, and by assisting victims with investigation updates.
“The co-location of the services is key. The hubs are in police stations, staff are working alongside police officers and witness care units.
“This will allow for greater collaboration and deliver my vision of a whole system approach to help victims cope and recover, and truly places victims at the heart of justice.”
The victim care hubs are open to anyone of any age at any time, and victims do not have to report to police to access the service.
To find out how to access them, visit https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/
The support is open to anyone who needs help to cope and recover from the impact of crime, including family and community members.
