In September 2013, the Victims’ Voice report of the Northamptonshire Victims’ Commissioner was published by the Northants OPCC:
Victims’ Voice report of the Northamptonshire Victims’ Commissioner (Full report)
The work of Victims’ Voice was shaped by what victims identify themselves as priorities.
Areas of focus included:
- developing new ways of genuinely engaging with victims across policing and criminal justice services as a whole, and of giving victims a voice going forward that is heard loud and clear by all agencies;
- analysing how well the needs, priorities and experiences of victims are understood, and to develop better ways of building richer understandings;
- ensuring that the needs, priorities and experiences of victims are taken seriously and acted upon to:
– develop excellent service for victims across the criminal justice system;
– drive a faster and more victim-friendly courts system;
– make things coordinated, coherent and cohesive for victims, so that they are not just passed from one professional or agency to another;
– strengthen the support services available to victims, and ensure they meet their needs and priorities;
– build the trust of victims to report their victimisation and access services. - championing restorative justice approaches, whilst ensuring that these are geared to meeting the needs of victims and are fully shaped by their wishes;
- considering as part of the approach to Victims’ Voice the special needs and priorities of vulnerable victims.
The report made recommendations including:
- further research to engage victims to help ‘see things through their eyes’
- new approaches to seeking feedback on services provided by the police
- a process to get regular feedback in respect of victims and witnesses experiences of the courts
- a review by the Police and Crime Commissioner of how well the needs of diverse communities are met across the county
Click here to read the full report and findings.