If you need support
Victims
Being a victim or witness of crime can be a traumatic and confusing experience. Everyone reacts differently to crime, either they've experienced it directly or indirectly.
If you have been a victim of crime, the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime sets out what services you can expect to receive from each of the criminal justice agencies.
For more information about supporting the needs of victims, click here.
Victim Support is the national charity which helps people affected by crime. It provides free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience, whether or not you report the crime.
For more information about Victim Support, click here.
Witnesses
Witnesses play a vital role in helping the Police to solve crimes and deliver justice. The criminal justice system cannot work without them.
For more information about understanding the role of the witness, click here.
Witness Care Units offer support and advice to witnesses involved in cases.
A person at the Witness Care Unit will remain your single point of contact, whether you are a victim of or witness to a crime.
They provide a consistent and accessible service for dealing with individual needs, support and advice.
For more information about Witness Care, click here.
The Witness Charter has been developed to tell you how, as a witness, you can expect to be treated by the police if you are a witness to a crime or incident.
It also covers subsequent standards of care for other criminal justice agencies and lawyers if you are asked to give evidence for the prosecution, or defence, in a criminal court.
For more information about the Witness Charter, click here.