THE Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has just launched the biggest study of its kind into victims’ needs in Cleveland.
In order to get the widest possible view of victims’ needs, the OPCC is hosting the victims’ needs assessment survey until Friday 25 June.
Working with the Centre for Public Innovation (CPI,) the assessment aims to understand how people affected by crime and anti-social behaviour want to access support for recovery in Cleveland.
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have a legal responsibility to commission services to support victims of crime.
As a condition of Ministry of Justice funding, PCCs must prove they help victims cope with the impact of crime and help them to recover from harm.
Since 2016, Cleveland’s PCC has commissioned the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) to deliver support to victims of crime and anti-social behaviour
VCAS, which is run by charity Safer Communities, has supported over 4,000 victims in Cleveland. Its contract with the OPCC is due to end on 31 March 2022.
The results of the victims’ needs assessment will inform a new service model from April 2022
Key aims of the Victims Needs Assessment
This is the most in-depth study of its kind conducted in the Cleveland area. Its key aims include the following:
- Understanding the level and type of victims in the Cleveland Police area;
- Identifying who our victims are, what their support needs are and whether current provision is reaching them;
- Exploring why some victims do not reach out for support.
The research team will consult and engage with VCAS and other key stakeholders, analyse police and victim service data and develop surveys for victims, under-represented groups and the wider Cleveland community.
Following the consultation, a report containing their findings and recommendations will be published in the summer.
Steve Turner, PCC for Cleveland, said: “In order to offer victims the best possible service, we need to know what they require to recover from crime and anti-social behaviour.
“This may be in terms of what we offer but it also may be in terms of how and where services are offered to those, who need them most.”
Mark Napier, CPI Managing Director, said: “We would really like residents to take a few minutes to complete this brief survey.
“The information that we gather will provide us with a huge amount of invaluable data.
“That will help us to understand how to better support victims of crime by understanding what is important to them.
“This is a chance to make a difference to how services locally operate – and it only takes five minutes!” To take the survey, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NMBLV9B