Executive Summary
Ensuring the right support for victims and vulnerable people, tackling offending and re-offending are key priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2024-29 Police and Crime Plan.
Safer Communities currently provide the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) commissioned victim referral service. This is through the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), together with the Restorative Cleveland service.
VCAS is commissioned to provide a support service for all victims of crime and antisocial behaviour (excluding homicide, domestic abuse and sexual abuse) living in Cleveland.
The service aims to help victims cope with the immediate impact of the incident and, as far as possible, recover from the harm they have experienced.
The service offers digital, telephone-based and face to face emotional and practical support. It is based on detailed assessment of need with onward referral where applicable.
The VCAS contract started on 1 April 2022. It was a three-year contract with the option to extend for two x 12 month periods. That means there was a maximum contract term of five years, taking the contract to 31 March 2027 at most.
Consistently positive
Feedback from victims supported by VCAS is consistently positive, as is feedback from Cleveland Police. The force is the key referrer into the service.
Restorative Cleveland offers all victims of crime the opportunity to engage with Restorative Justice, where appropriate. Restorative interventions provided by Restorative Cleveland are only available to offenders, who are 18 years of age and above.
Cleveland’s Youth Offending Teams are responsible for delivering restorative interventions if the offender is a juvenile.
A key focus during 2025/26 has been to increase referrals into the service. VCAS has successfully achieved this with referrals during the first two quarters of 2025/26 being double those received the previous year.
Feedback from participants, both victims and offenders, has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of the impact on their recovery journey.
The Restorative Cleveland contract started on 1 April 2022 as a three-year contract. There was an option to extend for a 12 month period, meaning a maximum contract term of 4 years to 31st March 2026.
For the period 2025/26, a single Safer Communities manager has jointly managed both contracts. This approach has facilitated joint working between the two services and enhanced the linkages between the two operational teams.
As a result of positive feedback, it is recommended that the VCAS contract is extended for a final 12 months as per contractual arrangements.
In addition, and in line with procurement regulations, it is recommended that Restorative Cleveland continues for a further 12 months. This will align with the VCAS service with the aim of jointly procuring as one service from 1 April 2027 onwards.
This decision was discussed in a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner on 10 December 2025 where support for the approach was agreed.