Victims & Witnesses
More help needed for victims of unreported crime
Victim Support is the national charity for people affected by crime. They are a completely independent organisation, offering a free and confidential service, irrespective of whether or not a crime has been reported. They published the report “Criminal Neglect: No Justice Beyond Criminal Justice” on 19 February 2002. The report makes the case that the needs of victims of crime are largely ignored, and Victim Support are using the report as a trigger for a campaign to encourage policy makers across all areas of government and social provision to recognise and provide for the needs of the victims of crime.
Most people will be affected by crime, directly or indirectly, at some time in their lives. Whilst there have been undoubted improvements in the way victims of crime are treated, these have been almost exclusively within the criminal justice system. As a consequence, the 96% of victims who do not report their crime to the police or whose offenders are not detected or charged do not benefit at all from these measures.
Crime affects the whole person and can impact upon the victim’s health, quality of life and finances. Many need help to cope with their emotions, but the report argues that specialist services for victims are not enough. Victims of crime and their families need effective support and understanding in all spheres of life such as education, housing, employment, healthcare and financial services. All public services must recognise their shared responsibility for helping people to cope with crime.
Victim Support believes that
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victims of crime have a wide range of needs, most of which are not recognised, let alone met
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society has a duty to alleviate the effects of crime whatever they may be
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reducing the effects of crime in the community is a priority requiring co-ordinated action by the government
In support of their argument, Victim Support focus on three specific areas: health, housing, and money. Their position may be summarised as follows:
Health
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healthcare professionals must be equipped to provide an appropriate response to victims of crime
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crime victims must have access to free healthcare services, geared to meet their needs
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the government must adopt an integrated approach to meeting the healthcare needs of victims of crime. National standards are needed to tackle this major health issue
Housing
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having somewhere safe to live is essential to every individual's physical and mental well-being; for the victim of crime it is a prerequisite of recovery
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the housing needs of victims of crime must be treated as a priority
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housing professionals must receive training in the effects of crime
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after a burglary or attack in the home, crime victims should receive protection and reassurance
Money
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victims of crime should not have to bear the cost of crime alone
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insurance should be affordable
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the social security system must address the specific needs of crime victims with fast and effective provision
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entitlement to compensation should be based on equitable principles and should be extended to meet the needs of more victims of crime
In conclusion, the report outlines the actions that need to be taken in order to improve the support provided to victims of crime. The following are required:
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a new way of thinking about crime
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the government to recognise its responsibility to crime victims
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a co-ordinated, proactive response
An executive summary and copies of the full report can be downloaded from the "Criminal Neglect: No Justice Beyond Criminal Justice" pages on the Victim Support website.
Last update: 27/08/03