Home Office to fund network of advocates for victims of crime and ASB

The government is to provide £1m in funding for a network of advocates for victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The initiative – which comes ahead of the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in 2012 – will be led by the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses, Louise Casey, in partnership with Victim Support.

The Home Office said the new breed of advocates would:

• “hear directly from victims and witnesses about their experiences through public meetings, links with victims' groups, surveys and discussions with residents in high-crime areas
• look at what is in place to help victims locally, whether victims can access these services and if all the victims that need help are getting it, particularly those who need it most
• set out what needs to be done locally to better protect and support victims
• make sure local crime and policing strategies reflect victims' needs and priorities, so that victims have a proper voice locally, and
• advise PCCs on local issues and victims' needs from their introduction in 2012.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Crime and antisocial behaviour blights communities and can make people's lives an absolute misery, in some cases leading to tragic consequences.

"I am delighted this money will see victims better represented at a local level ahead of PCCs who will take forward this important work from May next year.”

Earlier this year the government launched a consultation on its proposed reforms to how anti-social behaviour is tackled. These proposals include giving residents the power to compel local agencies to take action against repeat offenders.

It is also trialling in eight police force areas a new approach for handling complaints of ASB.

Louise Casey said: 
"The role of PCCs has been designed to bring in much needed local accountability on crime and policing and I welcome their clear obligation to represent the needs of victims of crime in the communities they will serve.

"This funding from the Home Secretary allows for the ground to be laid in advance of the arrival of PCCs to gauge what victims experiences are, what services are currently on offer and what more will need to be done. I hope that it means PCCs will arrive with the full picture on victims' priorities and can make any changes needed quickly.”