Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has reflected on the outstanding success of the service he funds to deliver life-saving support to victims of crime.
Nine out of ten victims of crime who received help from Victim First in 2022/23 said they could now cope and recover from the impact the experience had on their lives. Additionally, 100 per cent of service users reported improved or sustained health and wellbeing after receiving help.
In 2022-23, Victim First received 18,975 referrals - 1,489 more than in 2021-22. Of these, 11.5 per cent received advanced support.
After receiving help, 97.5 per cent of victims saw their level of need reduced.
One user commented: "If I didn't have professional support, I don't think I would be where I am today. My caseworker has been brilliant. She's been really helpful in advising me of my options and validating my experience.
"She is very approachable, easy to talk to and has been such a great source of support during a difficult time."
Mr Matthews said: "The service we provide through Victim First has had a positive impact on the lives of people who have been harmed by crime. These outcomes are just a small reflection of the great work that goes on every day, all year round, to give victims of crime their lives back and the confidence and courage to move forward.
"I have made it a personal mission to restore trust and confidence in policing and the criminal justice system. Treating victims of crime with the dignity and care they deserve is not only a statutory duty but also a moral one. When victims of crime trust the professionals responsible for protecting them, this undoubtedly affects how positively the public views these services overall.
"Victim First would not be what it is today without the dedicated staff working on the frontline of delivering care.
"We are always keen to listen and learn from the people we support so we can improve services. Victims and survivors of crime will continue to play a key role in designing future support in the way that all victims need."
Restorative Justice is an approach to justice that aims to repair the harm caused by crime by creating an opportunity for victims and those responsible for the offence to meet, discuss what happened and communicate their needs.
Victim First delivered 65 ‘recognised' Restorative Justice (RJ) outcomes in 2022-23. Of these, 100 per cent of victims were satisfied with the outcome of the RJ meeting and would recommend an RJ meeting to other people in their position. One service user, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I found it so powerful that I cried in front of my family, and I don't ever cry, and found a healing opportunity with my daughter which I never thought was there."
As part of its ongoing awareness work, Victim First has delivered 28 university drop-in sessions for students since 2022 and has hosted quarterly community cafes with service users. The service also contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on RJ.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC will relaunch the service in April with a raft of further improvements including a new telephone and triage support service, ongoing trauma-trained phone and face-to-face support and specialist help for young people aged under 18 and between 19-24.
The contract is worth over £1.5m over three years from April 2024. A further £80K is being invested to enable Leicestershire Police develop a Victim's Service Pathway to provide a dedicated support service to those most at risk.
He has also supported the roll out of a community outreach programme to make it easier for anyone reluctant to access support to receive help, new digital engagement services and a new restorative justice service to support out of court disposals to reduce reoffending and help victims come to terms with the harm caused.
Victim First was originally launched in October 2015 to provide a ‘one stop shop' support service for all victims of crime.
