Victims and Witnesses
One of West Mercia's priorities for our Criminal Justice Service is to have 'joint working' processes in place between agencies to improve and develop the service we all provide to Victims and Witnesses.
In order to improve our service to Victims and Witnesses our aims are:
- Sharing information between agencies, which include Police and West Mercia Criminal Justice Agencies, Criminal Justice Agencies and Victim and Witness Support, West Mercia Criminal Justice Agencies and Probation, and Youth Offending Teams. By improved sharing of information, this will mean we are all better informed and have more available contacts and links in order to help Victims and Witnesses
- Links with Victim Support.
- Keeping Victims and Witnesses up to date with information.
- Specialised Domestic Violence surgeries and hospitals in place.
- Always adhere to the Victims Code of Practice, follow this link to access the Code of Practice www.cps.gov.uk/victims_witnesses/victims_code.pdf
- Staff throughout the Criminal Justice Service will have a developed understanding of key activities other agencies do and how their work supports this.
- Staff understand the needs of different Victims and Witnesses and how to respond to these, particularly in relation to vulnerability and intimidation (Proper identification and appropriate use of special measures)
- Victims and Witnesses actively involved in improving the quality of service e.g. victim’s panels.
- All victims to receive Victims of Crime leaflet.
- Clear complaints procedure in place.
You can find out what the Crown Prosecution do to help Victims and Witnesses and their policy, follow this link www.cps.gov.uk/victims_witnesses/index.html You can also contact your local CPS West Mercia through this site, if you want to find out more, and how they may be able to help you.