WIREDGOV

Families of murder and manslaughter victims are to benefit from a boost in practical and emotional support, after Jack Straw announced proposals for a new National Victims Service, beginning with a service for those affected by murder and manslaughter.

The National Victims Service, which will be introduced during this financial year, will begin its work by offering one-to-one tailored support to all those bereaved by murder or manslaughter to help them cope with the trauma of losing a loved one to crime.

The government is providing an extra £2 million this financial year to the national organisation, Victim Support, to provide the service, ensuring that bereaved families are offered the services of an individual support worker who will:

• conduct a personalised needs assessment for family members
• provide specialist emotional, practical and financial support, responding to the individual needs of bereaved relatives
• liaise with criminal justice agencies on behalf of the family
• help families to access additional services such as legal services, financial advice and post-traumatic stress disorder counselling
• deliver updates from the criminal justice agencies involved in the investigation in order to ensure that the family are aware of and fully involved in the progress of the case
• will continue to provide support post sentence.

An extra £8.5 million will be available for allocation for the next financial year.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

'Losing a loved one is a traumatic and life changing experience. It is therefore imperative that effective support systems are created to help bereaved families through this terrible time.

'Over the past ten years a solid platform of support for victims of crime has been built. But now it is time to go even further. The Victims Service will achieve this by providing one-to-one care and support for victims – in the same way that the probation services provides end to end management of offenders.

'We will start with those families whose lives have been torn apart by murder or manslaughter. But our eventual aim will be to extend the service to everyone who has been a victim of crime. If they want more support we will be there for them.'

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Victim Support said:

'This is welcome news. Victim Support can now deepen the help we provide for the thousands of people affected by homicide or manslaughter each year. When people's lives fall apart, we will work with others to make sure they get the support they need.'

There are around 800 murders each year in England and Wales, creating in the region of up to 3,000 people who have lost a loved one to murder and manslaughter each year.

The introduction of the National Victims Service will provide further strength to current government initiatives that aim to heighten support to bereaved victims. These include police Family Liaison Officers, an enhanced level of service from the Victims' Code, and the direct offer of a pre-trial meeting with prosecutors via the Crown Prosecution Service Victim Focus Scheme. There is also a provision for personal and social legal advice to be provided to bereaved families through a helpline.

In January 2009, the government also appointed Sara Payne as the Victims' Champion to represent victims' views at the highest level across government. This role will in due course be replaced by a new statutory Victims' Commissioner and builds on the success of the Victims Advisory panel which already advises the government on victims issues.

The government currently provides £36 million to Victim Support and some smaller, specialist charities who offer existing services to those bereaved through murder and manslaughter. The new service will build on this provision.

The Witness and Victim Experience Study shows that victims satisfaction is at an all-time high, with 83% of victims and witnesses satisfied with their contact with the criminal justice system.

Notes to editors

1. Media enquiries: Contact Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536.
2. Progress: We have come a long way in improving the victim and witness experience of the Criminal Justice System.
   1. Fifteen years ago: victims and witnesses peripheral to the Criminal Justice System: focus is on catching and convicting perpetrators and a lack of coordinated follow up means little satisfaction for victims
   2. Five years ago: recognition that comprehensive justice must include successful prosecution and conviction. Victims and witnesses giving their best evidence now seen as pivotal to an effective CJS. Local Criminal Justice Boards and Witness Care Units are established to create links between Criminal Justice System agencies and improve support to victims and witnesses.
   3. Present: victims and witnesses now at the centre of the Criminal Justice System: all CJS agencies must provide them with support and assistance to go through the justice process. A standard level of service is agreed on and Local Criminal Justice Boards are developing local strategies to tailor services to the needs of victims and witnesses.
3. Victim Support: Victim Support is an independent charity that supports people affected by crime. Victim Support receives £30 million a year via a Grant in Aid from the Victim and Witness Unit, Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This enables Victim Support to help 1.5 million people every year and Victim Support also provides a Witness Service in every Crown and magistrates' court in England and Wales.

    

   Victim Support provides emotional support and practical advice to 1.5 million victims each year. It receives, in addition to the £30 million Grant in Aid, an additional grant (£6.2 million this year) to provide victims with a structured needs assessment and, where appropriate, procured services from other third sector or commercial organisations.

   Victim Support delivers a service to witnesses (the Witness Service) in every criminal court in England and Wales.