Jack Straw on the National Victims' Service
continued from
page 6
"I am proud to announce details
of the first ever National Victims' Service. The aim is that for
the first time, victims will be given support from the moment
they report a crime until the moment they say they no longer
need help. There is a parallel – of course not exact – with the
way the
Probation Service provides end-to-end management of
offenders."
"The Service will start by the
beginning of March with families whose lives have been torn
apart by murder or manslaughter – a pain which mercifully few
will ever have to endure. The number of recorded homicides has
fallen by almost a third since 2002-03. They are now at their
lowest levels for a decade. But losing a loved one is always
devastating, heartbreaking, life-changing. It is a hurt which
will never disappear. We cannot turn the clock back. We can
never hope to right the wrongs bereaved families have suffered.
We can never remove the harm. But we can, even in small ways,
lessen the distress."
"The new National Victims'
Service will give every relative bereaved through murder or
manslaughter the tailored support, care and attention they need,
for as long as they need it. They will be given a dedicated,
professional support worker, who will meet regularly with them
to identify their needs and liaise with the authorities on their
behalf."
"The bereaved person may need
immediate practical assistance with security, for example, or
childcare, dealing with the media, informing other family
members of the death, or making bill payments. They will be
helped through all of this. Emotional support and expert
assistance will be offered where needed – counselling, for
instance, or legal and financial advice. Support will not stop
when the criminal justice process comes to a conclusion. It will
carry on for as long as the victim needs it."
"This provision will be
complementary to the work which the police do already in support
of victims and bereaved victims. Following the implementation of
the
1999 Lawrence Inquiry Report, a comprehensive national
system of Police Family Liaison Officers has been in place in
homicide cases, which has proved very effective and helpful."
"All involved in the support of
victims and bereaved victims do so subject to any requirements
of the Senior Investigating Officer involved, and that will of
course continue to be the case."
"We are delivering this new
service for bereaved relatives through Victim Support, at a cost
of £2 million per year."
"This is a good start, but it is
not enough."
"So I am pleased to announce that
from the 1st of April, the National Victims' Service will start
to provide a new, enhanced service for victims of all crimes who
need support – no matter where they live or what offence was
committed against them."
"The most vulnerable victims will be entitled to their own
dedicated case worker, responsible for pulling together various
public services – such as housing, health, employment or social
services – and for referring them quickly to specialist support.
All victims who need it will be given immediate emotional
support on any day of the week – including weekends. They will
be entitled to an in-depth assessment of their needs, and a
tailored plan to address them."
"From
July, every victim who needs support will be entitled to a case
worker who will guide them through the criminal justice process,
and give them help and assistance for as long as they need it."
"We are also looking at making
more comprehensive the service for victims of anti-social
behaviour, for example. Many anti-social behaviour cases involve
crime, reported to the police. Victims in these cases will be
supported like any other victim of crime. As part of the
National Victims' Service, we are looking at how best to support
other victims of anti-social behaviour with acute needs on a
similar basis."
"This new £8 million National
Victims' Service will be delivered in partnership with Victim
Support. More than 10% of the funding will be set aside for
specialist support services provided by other victims'
organisations."
"This is a defining moment. The
National Victims' Service will provide consistent levels of
support for anyone who has been a victim of crime and who wants
assistance. If victims need help, we will be there for them. And
fundamentally, it will ensure that supporting victims is firmly
embedded in the culture of the criminal justice service, as a
function of the service, not an optional add-on."
"A fair society is one which
cares for those most in need. That was the principle behind the
introduction of the modern Welfare State in 1945. It is the
principle which has driven reforms to support victims since
1997. And it is the principle underlying the first ever National
Victims' Service."
"Crime can leave an indelible
mark on victims' lives. No-one can truly understand the effect
it can have unless they have been unfortunate enough to
experience it themselves. It is the duty of government – one of
its first – to offer care and support to those affected by
crime. Standing aside is not an option."
"This government has stood up for
the law-abiding majority. We have given victims a central voice
and priority, and a greater stake in justice. We have
dramatically improved the services provided, and have invested
heavily in support for them."
"The National Victims' Service –
inspired by the work of Sara Payne – will make sure that support
for victims is seen as integral to the delivery of justice. It
will make sure everyone in the criminal justice service – from
the police to probation, from court staff to volunteers –
understands that supporting victims is central to what they are
there to do."
"Victims of crime deserve nothing
less."