The promises Victim Support is asking Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidates to make are as follows:
- Be open and accountable to victims and witnesses, seeking out and acting on their views
- (this includes consulting constituents on the local services they think are needed, creating a broad advisory group of victims, witnesses and organisations that support them, publishing an annual report (and an impact report) with the numbers of victims and witnesses helped, services provided and future plans and hosting regular open meetings to allow victims and witnesses to raise their concerns and offer suggestions on improving services and information provision)
- Ensure that victims and witnesses receive the high quality help and support they need, and when they need it
- (to encompass safeguarding budgets for victim support services, ensuring every victim of crime has access to help regardless of the severity or nature of the crime and ensuring that standards for services to victims meet or exceed the standards in place before local commissioning)
- Make the police service more victim-focused and more effective at meeting the needs of victims
- (ensuring that police and crime panels are victim-focused with ‘victim and witness support’ as a standing agenda item, holding the police to account for meeting targets for referring victims for support and ensuring all victims receive regular and up-to-date information about their case from the police service)
- Help victims and witnesses to have a louder voice in the wider criminal justice system and the community
- (holding an annual victims’ survey to monitor satisfaction with the police, identify areas for improvement and track progress, building satisfaction targets – and a needs analysis – into the annual victims’ survey, working with the CJS to assess and improve victim satisfaction, encouraging statutory agencies to promote and develop their links with voluntary organisations – and hold victim and witnesses’ needs as a key priority – and, lastly, developing ways for victims to share their views and experiences)
- Constantly improve the experience of victims
- (to include extending the use of restorative justice and effective alternatives to custody, promoting greater partnership working between offenders’ and victims’ organisations, regularly reviewing the provision of services for victims of crime in a given area and promoting the use of proven new technology and other developments to enhance victims’ and witnesses’ interaction with the justice system)
Research on Police and Crime Commissioner awareness
As part of the launch, Victim Support commissioned research into public awareness of the PCC elections, which take place in November. The YouGov survey revealed a number of issues and concerns to support the charity’s manifesto in the fight to safeguard the future of victims’ and witness services.
The research revealed that:
- Only one-in-five people think PCCs will make a positive difference to the support victims receive
- 91% of people think that it’s important for the new PCCs to listen to victims when carrying out their role
- Less than a quarter of people surveyed (23%) believe that victims will be a priority for PCCs in practice
- Less than half of respondents to the survey (47%) in PCC election areas across England and Wales know about the PCC elections
- Almost nine out of ten people do not know what PCCs will do (55% do not know very much and 30% do not know anything)
Support from high profile campaigners
Javed Khan, CEO at Victim Support, said: “The future of support for victims is in the hands of PCCs, but our survey shows that most people don’t know about PCCs, what they’ll do or have little faith that they’ll prioritise victims’ needs. It’s now time for PCC candidates to stand up and prove to the public that they are committed to victims. That’s why we are calling on all PCC candidates to sign up to five promises which put victims first.”
A number of high profile campaigners have pledged their support to our campaign. Actress and anti-knife crime campaigner Brooke Kinsella MBE, whose brother Ben was killed in a knife attack, said: “My family and I know how important it is to get emotional and practical support after a crime. I don’t think anyone traumatised by crime should be left to fend for themselves. People should use their vote on 15 November to elect PCC candidates who will put the needs of victims and witnesses first.”
Broadcaster and campaigner Nick Ross – famed for his presenter role on the BBC’s Crimewatch – added: “As November’s PCC elections draw closer it’s clear few people know much about them, including the fact that the new Commissioners will be responsible for looking out for victims. Victims – and potential victims – should be at the heart of their concerns. When candidates ask for your vote please make sure they’ve signed up to Victim Support’s five pledges.”