Victims of Crime. Keeping our communities safe and reassured. Information and advice. Version 2 Dec 16. Crime/Incident Number:

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1 Victims of Crime Information and advice Keeping our communities safe and reassured Crime/Incident Number: Attending Officer: Brief details of crime being investigated: Officer s Contact Number: Officer s Address: Version 2 Dec 16

2 Staffordshire Police is committed to providing an outstanding service to victims and communities by putting them at the heart of all that we do. Being a victim of crime can be a distressing and sometimes life changing event. This pack aims to explain what will happen now that you have reported the crime and direct you to the support and services that are available to help you cope and recover. Your Rights The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime entitles all victims, both individuals and businesses, to support from the police and other criminal justice agencies. As a victim you can expect: Information about the criminal justice process An assessment to see if you need support to cope with and recover from the impact of the crime To be referred to an organisation that supports victims of crime To be informed if an investigation is not going to take place and the reasons why To be updated on the progress of your case and to be told about any developments such as if the suspect is arrested, charged and has any bail conditions To be informed if the suspect is to be prosecuted or not, or given an out of court disposal To be given the opportunity to make a Victim Personal Statement To be kept up to date if a charge is withdrawn or there is a major change to the charge To be informed of the time, date, location and outcome of any court hearing(s) To be told if you need to give evidence in court, what to expect and discuss what help and support you may need Information on Restorative Justice and how you can take part. Some victims of crime (e.g. children, victims of the most serious crimes or close relatives of someone who has died as a result of crime) are entitled to extra support. For more information on the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime please visit the-code-of-practice-for-victims-ofcrime 02

3 After Reporting a Crime Once you have reported a crime the police will ask you questions about what has happened and will record the details you provide. You can have someone with you for support during this time such as a family friend or relative as long as they are over 18 and not connected with the offence. You may also be asked to make a witness statement which will include information such as when the crime took place, where it occurred and what you saw and heard. You must tell the police if: You later remember something you have not included in your witness statement You need support to help you deal with the effect of the crime or if your needs change You have specific needs such as mobility, communication or religious requirements which have not already been recorded If the crime involved any type of hostility, for example if you were targeted because of your race, sexuality, religion, disability or gender identity Your contact details change Victims of Crime Information and advice 03

4 Victim Personal Statement If you have provided an officer with a witness statement you will be offered the opportunity to make a Victim Personal Statement (VPS). This is your way of telling people working within the criminal justice system how being a victim of crime has affected you. Your VPS gives you a voice and helps the court understand what you have been through. Making a VPS is voluntary. Before deciding to do this, you will be advised by the police that if the case reaches court, your VPS will be seen by the defence. You may also be asked questions about your VPS during the trial. You will be asked if you would like to have your VPS read out or played in court if the defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty. The decision to allow you to read out your VPS personally is for the court to make and you will be notified of their decision by your Case Worker. Your VPS can include information such as: Any physical, financial, emotional or psychological injury you have suffered If you feel vulnerable or intimidated If you no longer feel safe The impact the crime has had on your family How your quality of life has changed on a day-to-day basis If you need or are receiving any additional support. A VPS can be made, or updated, any time before the alleged offender is sentenced. If a defendant pleads guilty at first hearing they may be sentenced before you have had chance to make your VPS so do not delay if you wish to make one. If you want to make a VPS or update one already made, contact the police officer dealing with your case or your Case Worker. If you choose not to have your VPS read out it will still be taken into consideration by the court. If your VPS is discussed in court the details could be reported in the media. 04

5 Business Impact Statement All businesses or enterprises (such as charities) are entitled to make a Business Impact Statement (BIS) if they have been a victim of crime. This allows you to detail how the crime has affected your business. It can include any financial impact (assets stolen or damaged), indirect financial impact (loss of custom) and non-financial impact (reputational damage or physical injuries sustained by staff or customers.) You can make a BIS and a VPS. Supporting you Staffordshire Victim Gateway is a free and confidential service that provides information, advice, or practical and emotional support, to all victims of crime in Staffordshire, even if you haven t reported the crime to the police. For more information please visit or call (calls charged at local rate). Business Crime Advisors Specialist support is available to businesses impacted by crime through the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. Business Crime Advisors are trained to deliver tailored support packages to businesses following a crime and facilitate a county-wide support network of business victims. For more information please visit business-support/businesscrimehelpline or call Victims of crime will be referred to the Victim Gateway by Staffordshire Police (unless you choose to opt out of this service). If you initially opt out of this service you can self-refer at any time. Victims of Crime Information and advice 05

6 Protection against Intimidation If you, or others close to you, are harassed or threatened in any way during an investigation or trial, you should contact the police immediately as this is a criminal offence. Protection for victims and witnesses against witness intimidation extends for up to a year after the end of a trial. Protect Your Home and Your Property Staffordshire is a safe place to live and work and Staffordshire Police aim to keep it that way. There are ways in which you can reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime. For information and advice on crime prevention please visit crimeprevention To register or find out more about Staffordshire Smart Alert visit www. staffordshiresmartalert.uk or download the App from the App Store (IOS/ Android). Compensation The courts may award you compensation. However, in order to do so, you will need to provide invoices or estimates of any costs to repair damage caused by crime. As some cases can be dealt with quickly at court, it is in your interest to provide this information as soon as possible. The court will also consider compensation for any injuries caused by crime. If you are a victim of a violent crime and as a result suffered physical or psychological harm, you may be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). You can apply for compensation within two years of the date of the crime. You can apply online at or call to speak to a CICA Customer Service Centre Advisor. Staffordshire Smart Alert provides the opportunity for residents, businesses and partners to receive timely, localised crime alerts and community safety information from Staffordshire Police officers and the force s Community Engagement Team. 06

7 The Next Steps Following police enquiries a decision will be made as to what happens next in relation to your case and the officer in charge of your case will explain this to you. If your case is not going to progress to court (even if a suspect has been identified and interviewed) then the officer will explain the reasons for this. Victims Right to Review Victims in Staffordshire have the right to request a review of a decision by Staffordshire Police not to prosecute a suspect. You can request a review of your case if: A decision not to prosecute an identified suspect was made on the grounds of insufficient evidence or public interest The police did not have the authority to prosecute without Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) consultation and the matter was not referred to the CPS on the grounds of insufficient evidence or public interest The scheme only applies to cases where a suspect has been identified and interviewed under caution, either after arrest or by voluntary arrangement. If you wish to apply for a review you must do so within three months of being informed by the police of the decision to take no further action. You can apply for a review online by completing the Request Review Submission form available on our website at uk/contactus under the Victims Right to Review tab. Or, you can write to Victims Right to Review, Justice Services, Staffordshire Police HQ, PO Box 3167, Stafford ST16 9JZ. Victims of Crime Information and advice 07

8 Alternatives to going to Court Out of court disposals allow the police to deal quickly and proportionately with less serious, often first time offending which could be more appropriately resolved without a prosecution at court. Out of court disposals are not suitable for more serious cases. They would not normally be considered for those who repeatedly commit crimes. To be suitable for an out of court disposal: The police must have evidence that the offender has committed an offence The offender must admit to the behaviour or offence and agree to the out of court disposal; and The officer must think the evidence is enough for court proceedings but considers an Out of Court Disposal would be more appropriate The police officer must have consulted with you to discuss the resolution or conditions to be imposed. The following disposals are available to the police: Community resolutions such as: Reparation to the victim for example, repairing damage. Reparation to the community for example, by doing unpaid work in the local area such as litter picking or cleaning up graffiti. Paying compensation for example, to the victim or for theft and shoplifting. Structured Activity for example, drug and alcohol treatment services, to be offered as part of a conditional caution. Enter an agreement for example: an Acceptable Behaviour contract where the perpetrator agrees to behave appropriately in the future or face more formal consequences. Mediation for example: to help resolve a dispute between neighbours. Youth Cautions for those aged between years of age. Youth Conditional Cautions for those aged between years of age. Conditional Cautions for those aged 18 years and over. Out of court disposals aim to give victims more say in the punishment of offenders out of court, and to deal proportionately with the offence committed. 08

9 Restorative Justice Restorative justice (RJ) is a process which gives victims the opportunity to have a say in the resolution of offences committed against them and offers them the chance to come face to face with their offender. RJ can involve face to face meetings between the victim and offender or contact between victim and offender through a third party. The process allows you, the victim, to ask questions about why the offender committed the crime and has been shown to help victims to address any ongoing fears they may have. The process allows you to tell the offender directly how the crime has impacted on you and to identify ways to prevent the crime from happening again. For offenders, RJ processes offer a unique opportunity to face up to what they have done, take responsibility and make up for the harm their offending has caused. You can request to take part in RJ at any point through the criminal justice process. Your police officer will discuss this with you or refer you to the Staffordshire Restorative Justice Hub. The Staffordshire Restorative Justice Hub can be contacted on or via at admin@rjhub.org.uk To find out more, visit Victims of Crime Information and advice 09

10 Going to Court Your case will go to court if someone is arrested and charged by the police. You will be assigned a case worker from a prosecution hub who will take care of you through to the end of the case. Your case worker will: Keep you up to date with the progress of your case Give you information regarding the dates and locations of court hearings Inform you if you are required to give evidence at court Arrange a pre-trial court visit for you with the Witness Service Update you with the outcome of the case, whether or not the suspect is found guilty and details of any sentence imposed. If you are called to court the Witness Service can help you. They will run the pre-trial court visit for you, explain what to expect and support you at any court appearance. They can be contacted on or via Help in Court Special Measures Some witnesses can be considered for special measures at court because of their age or the type of offence they witnessed. The special measures available to vulnerable and intimidated witnesses may include: Screens in the courtroom to prevent you from seeing the defendant Live links allowing you to give evidence away from the courtroom via a live TV link Evidence in private allowing you privacy by clearing the public gallery whilst you give evidence Removal of wigs and gowns by judges and barristers Visually recorded statements allowing the police to obtain your account by video interview rather than a written statement in certain circumstances. The prosecution can apply for this to be used instead of you physically giving evidence in court Support from an Intermediary to help you understand and answer the questions being asked Communication aids to help you give evidence such as symbol boards and voice synthesisers. The police and CPS will apply for special measures on your behalf but the court will make the final decision about whether or not the special measures requested can be used. Your case worker will discuss this with you. 10

11 What happens after the Court Case? Your case worker will notify you of the result of any court case including details of any sentence imposed. Sometimes the suspect will appeal against the sentence or the conviction. This is when they ask for the judge s decision to be changed or for the sentence to be reduced. If the offender is allowed to appeal your case worker will tell you where and when the appeal hearing will take place. Quality of Service Around the clock the officers, staff and volunteers of Staffordshire Police are committed to delivering exceptional service to our communities. If you are particularly happy or unhappy with the service you have received, please visit the Compliments and Complaints page on our website at Victims of Crime Information and advice 11

12 Police contact details CALL THE POLICE ON When should I call 101? To report less urgent crime or disorder, to contact the police with general enquiries or to speak to a local officer. For example: IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS CALL 999 if your car has been stolen if your property has been damaged reporting a minor traffic incident where you suspect drug use or dealing giving police information about crime in your area. How does it work? Call 101 to contact Staffordshire Police - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How much does it cost? Calls from landlines and mobile networks cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day or how long you are on the phone. Always call 999 in an emergency, where there is threat to life or a crime in progress. Tell us what you know, not who you are. Call about a crime anonymously. If you wish to report a crime and you have hearing loss, contact the Deafness Support Network which will provide you with a free of charge BSL interpreter. Other ways to keep in touch with Staffordshire Police 8 /staffordshirepolice Staffordshire Smart Alert: