Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw with members of the Lancashire Victim Services Team
For the first time, Lancashire Victim Services will bring together services for victims of hate crime, young victims, victims of sexual abuse and domestic abuse as well victims of more general crime types and of repeat anti-social behaviour.
Responsibility for victim services in Lancashire transferred to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office in April 2015.
Commissioner Clive Grunshaw established Lancashire Victim Service in April of that year and launched the new and enhanced service at a briefing event for partners and stakeholders in Accrington today, 4 April 2017.
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 Lancashire Victim Services 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
- A central management operations hub in Lancashire
- Clear and easy access to services for those in need of help with victims directed to the support they need, when they need it
- Strong partnership working with local groups – including sub-contracting arrangements for specialist services.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner 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 making 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. Services will continue to be of the highest quality and will be delivered locally.
“It’s been great to see the level of interest in the new offer at today’s event and I am excited to see support for victims improve even further going forward. The new service model we have developed for Lancashire is pioneering and this new approach will provide a seamless service to anyone affected by crime in the county.”
Ellen Miller, Victim Services Director at Victim Support added: “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’ve 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.”
If you have been affected by crime, we are here to support you. Please contact us.
