Referrals to Victim Support

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/008130/I

 Version Date: 21/05/2025

The Performance & Analysis Department and the Alliance Operations Department have provided the following information.

What is your policy for officers referring victims to the victim support scheme.
Are there any time limitations suggested.

The Victim and Witness Care Policy (DCP-P-071) states the following:

‘4.2.3  If an officer establishes that a victim of crime fits within the definition of one or more of these priority categories, the victim must be updated on any key developments or decisions within one working day (compared to five working days for all other victims). Victims with enhanced rights should be given access to special measures. The responsibility for these updates sits with the officer in the case (OIC) pre-charge and will be supported by the Witness Care Unit throughout any court process.

4.3       Victim Care Unit (VCU)

4.3.1   The DCP VCU is the conduit for referring all victims of crime with identified needs to the most appropriate local service provider who will support them to cope with, and recover from, the impact of that crime.

4.3.2   There is a network of support organisations who are commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Office (OPCC) to work in this capacity. Within the VCU there is a Restorative Justice Co-ordinator and a number of victim care advocates who specialise in direct face to face liaison with the most vulnerable victims.

4.3.3   The VCU will also coordinate support for victims of crime who reside in the Force area but have been victims of crime committed elsewhere. Similarly, the VCU refer victims to other Forces where they reside elsewhere but have been victims of crime in Devon and Cornwall.

4.4       Victim needs assessment (VNA)

4.4.1   A VNA must be completed for all crime where there is a victim. All victims have the right to be offered support to help them to cope and recover from the impact of the crime. Officers must complete a VNA during their initial contact with the victim to determine whether the victim needs support. The initial VNA must be completed within 24 hours of the offence being reported, unless there is a valid reason not to (for example, you are unable to make contact with the victim).

4.4.2   It is important that the question of whether or not the victim requires support is answered by the victim, as this is not a judgement of the police officer or police staff member as to whether the victim requires support. It is important to include as much information as possible on the VNA, such as what existing support is in place (i.e., through statutory services), any particular wishes of the victim, or views from the police officer or police staff member surrounding the victim’s needs.

4.4.4   For those victims who do not wish to engage with or report to the Police, the OPCC has commissioned the organisation Victim Support. They support victims of non-reported crime and are independent of the police structure. The VCU can provide information on how to access this service.

4.4.5   A small number of specialist victim support services are commissioned nationally and victims will be signposted either by the VCU or their specialist point of contact as appropriate. Such facilities include services to support families bereaved by homicide and road traffic crime.’

Are victms of attacks by dangerous dogs referred to the scheme

No, we do not automatically refer victims into Victim Support