What is VIP?
The Victim & Witness Information Partnership (VIP) has been the fore-runner to the nationally introduced Witness Care Units (WCU) currently being rolled out in England and Wales.
Currently there are 165 Witness Care Units (WCU) in England and Wales. A WCU's minimum criteria to qualify as such is that police and CPS staff co-locate and work together in supporting victims and witnesses.
VIP, however, combines police and CPS with Probation, YOT and Victim Support. Each agency has placed operational staff within VIP making the unit truly multi-agency.
Also included within the unit is an ASBO co-ordinator who offers support to victims and witnesses on the civil side of ASBO's, linking in with the County Solicitor's Department, as well as supporting the criminal part of ASBO's when the offender breaches the Order.
With this multi-agency approach, VIP is able to offer real-time, professional and experienced support to victims and witnesses that goes beyond charge to sentence.
VIP is based at 93-95 Bedford Street, Leamington Spa - an none-criminal agency site. The unit, which services the whole county, has a drop-in facility for the public.
Arrangements have been made for the unit to be placed within the Southern Criminal Justice Centre on completion in 2008.
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