Support for victims of crime at risk due to government funding delay
Delays to government funding for support to victims of crime could lead to the loss of valuable services, elected Police and Crime Commissioners have warned.
With many contracts coming to an end in March, Police and Crime Commissioners are calling on the Ministry of Justice for urgent clarification of the grant available so they can commission help and support for victims of crime and the most vulnerable people in society.
The delay in funding means that many organisation that provide this support also face uncertainty and may have to start redundancy processes for their staff, leading to a lack of specialist help and support for vulnerable people.
The government grant to PCCs to commission these vital services was £63 million for 2015/16.
Vera Baird, Northumbria PCC and Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Supporting Victims Group said:
“Despite repeated requests to the Ministry of Justice, Police and Crime Commissioners are still in the dark about how much money we will have to support victims of crime and vulnerable people. Putting victims first is at the heart of everything we do. The uncertainty created by this delay means that help and support for victims and vulnerable people may not be available in some areas putting people at greater risk.
“The organisations that provide these services are facing an uncertain future without this urgent clarification.”
“Sue Pearce, Chief Executive of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, a charity supporting victims of rape and sexual assault, said:
“The delay in hearing about this funding is a huge cause for concern, forcing us into a position of great uncertainty where we are unable to plan ahead and ensure sure that we’re able to continue all our work in supporting the people who depend on us.
“Important services like ours need to know where funding is coming from, and PCC funding is essential in keeping our service running to a level where we can meet the needs of vulnerable victims that need and want our support to recover from what can be the most traumatic experience. The funding from the PCC has been a huge success in ensuring the wellbeing of victims across Northumbria – it would be catastrophic if it’s something we can no longer continue to deliver at a level that is so vitally needed. We can’t afford to be kept waiting any longer.”
Support for victims and vulnerable people that maybe at risk include:
- Specialist support for female and male victims of sexual exploitation or those involved in survival sex work;
- Specialist support for minority groups and refugee women, children and young victims;
- Providing support to victims of forced marriage, honour based violence, domestic slavery, trafficking and FGM;
- Wraparound support in the school setting for vulnerable children who are victims or who live with victims of crime and display harmful behaviours;
- Safeguarding and supporting visually impaired adults against abuse and disability hate crime.