What services are available to victims and witnesses through VIP?
Specific services individuals can take up, if they wish, include pre-trial court visits. This allows familiarisation of the court surroundings improving a witnesses knowledge and confidence. With this comes greater potential for the giving of quality and confident best evidence. WHAT DOES VIP DO outlines some of the other services.
The VIP office has a drop-in facility for the public. Victims and witnesses are able to visit and deal with their issues in confidence. Within the reception area is a facility for the public to enter Criminal Justice System on-line. This shows a virtual walk through the CJ system.
One unique aspect of VIP compared to any other WCU is the Probation Service element. Other national Witness Care Units take victims from not guilty to sentence.
The Probation Service Officer within VIP continues to support victims who have been subject to violent or sexual crime where the defendant has received 12 months or more imprisonment.
Victims are informed of the defendants location, parole dates, release dates and areas they are released to. Such a victim can influence where a prisoner is, or is not, released.
This truly extends victim care by VIP and adds value to the multi-agency approach.
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