Victims of crime in Merseyside are being urged to share their experience of the support they received in order to help others.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, is asking anyone who has been affected by crime in the last three years to share their views in order to shape the support services that are provided in the future.



As part of a six-week Merseyside-wide consultation, the Commissioner is asking people to take part in a short online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mers...periencesurvey which aims to find out how existing referral processes and support services are working, and which areas could be improved in order to help victims in the future.

Over the last year, more than 5,500 victims have been supported by the Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service, a range of help which aims to help all those affected by crime to cope and recover. Jane is now reviewing these services to ensure they still meet the needs of victims and is carrying out the consultation in consider to shape how the service should be delivered from 2018 to 2021.

Jane said: “I am now at the early stage of planning the services that I will commission as part of the Victim Care Merseyside service for 2018-2021 and I want to make sure I am providing the right support at the right time for the people who need it the most.

“I don’t want to second guess the needs of victims. I want to deliver the services that best help them and that’s why I am urging anyone who has been affected by crime in Merseyside during the last three years to share their views and experiences with me. It is only by listening to the voices of those who have been a victim and gone through this experience that I can get it right. By taking part in this consultation and by sharing their experiences, they will be playing a vital role in ensuring even better care and support for victims in the future.

“Victims of crime rely on support services to help them to recover from what can often be a traumatic event, no matter what the offence. They deserve to feel involved in the criminal justice process, to be kept up-to-date on their cases and given dignity at all stages of the process.

“I want victims on Merseyside to receive the very best possible support and, by giving us their views and feedback, those who have been unfortunate enough to suffer at the hands of criminals can be involved in a critical stage of this process.”

As well as the online survey, victims will also have the opportunity to share their experiences face-to-face in a focus group or a one-to-one interview.

Victim Care Merseyside is a package of support and care which involves an intensive referral mechanism embedded within Merseyside Police, six specialist support services and a website, www.VictimCareMerseyside.org which acts as one-stop shop of information and advice for victims.

It is designed to prevent people becoming repeat victims, protect victims from further harm and help them to better cope and recover following the crime. It also ensures services are joined-up and consistent around the region, preventing anyone from being subjected to a postcode lottery of care.

Take part in the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mers...periencesurvey

The survey will run until Saturday September 16th.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to share your views by taking part in an interview or attending a focus group, please contact the Sarah Barnett, Independent Research Consultant, on 07855 180015 or by email at sarahbarnettresearch@outlook.com.