At what point do VIP start working with victims and witnesses?
The focus of VIP has always been on the post charge/summons process phase. This will continue for the present, with Witness Care Officers attempting to make contact with victims and witnesses at the earliest opportunity after charge/summons.
The national No Witness No Justice criteria for full WCU intervention with victims and witnesses kicks in at the point a defendant pleads not guilty. However, VIP believes that this is too late for some victims who desperately require support and confidence building at an earlier stage of the CJ process.
Also within VIP are members of the Youth Justice Service who, following close liaison with Witness Care Officers dealing with the victims of youth crime, can offer an input by those victims into part of the Sentence outcome for young offenders.
Victims will be given a say in what happens with a young offender as part of their Sentence. This may mean a verbal or written apology to the victim, or a piece of community work as part of restorative justice. This could be cleaning paint-daubed property or other appropriate community work.
Not all work within VIP is dealing with victims and witnesses of crime. VIP boasts the ability to seriously impact on anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Within VIP there is a police officer whose role is that of ASB co-ordinator. The officer deals with victims and witnesses involved in ASB issues that have not been escalated to a criminal justice level. This is where local councils, via offices such as Housing departments, apply to the civil courts for anti-social behaviour Orders against persons who have committed what might be termed minor anti-social behaviour.
The impacts on the quality of life, even for the more low level ASB, cannot be underestimated, and this is where relevant and appropriate support can be offered by the ASB co-ordinator. The support offered generally mirrors that support offered to victims and witnesses of more serious criminal matters.
With the diversity of CJ agency staff within VIP, it is intended that victims and witnesses will continue to be supported at every opportunity. This mirrors the Victims Code of Practice that was introduced in April 2006. Also, there is no doubt, NWNJ will continue to advance the point at which victims and witnesses are supported.
With this in mind, VIP is already sets the pace.
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