Select Committee on Home Affairs Written Evidence


48.  Memorandum submitted by Victim Support

  We responded to a previous request for written comments at the time that Respect and Responsibility was published and, as background, I enclose a copy of that response dated 18 March 2003.

  Victim Support can contribute expertise about the support that is available to victims of anti-social behaviour. Our Victim Support services in the community regularly meet and speak to people affected by anti-social behaviour. Usually Victim Support comes into contact with a victim of anti-social behaviour following a referral from the police after a victim has reported a crime such as criminal damage or harassment. Referral protocols already exist between the police and Victim Support to ensure that the victim's contact details are passed on to Victim Support. Sometimes an individual will contact Victim Support direct for example where the individual does not wish to report to the police.

  As the nature of anti-social behaviour is so varied, we do not have a specific category in our statistics for the number of people we support in this category. However, we have enclosed statistics that show significant increases in the referrals of victims of racially motivated incidents (59%), harassment (60%) and criminal damage (7%) to our community based services. Our Witness Service has also experienced a significant rise in referrals for these incidents (harassment—32%, criminal damage—27% and racially motivated incidents—4%) along with a rise for witnesses attending in cases of public disorder (30%). These statistics indicate that demand for Victim Support's services in cases often termed criminal anti-social behaviour has significantly increased from 2002-03 to 2003-04.

  From our experience of supporting victims of anti-social behaviour, we can confirm just how important it is for individuals who are victims to receive support from within the community and we know how debilitating anti-social behaviour can be for the victims. Some examples of the situations where Victim Support has supported people are:

    —  elderly people in wardened accommodation who were frightened by young people who repeatedly paint graffiti on their garden walls;

    —  a family who were racially abused and whose garden fence was regularly knocked down by a group of local young people and items thrown into the garden. Panic alarms and a fire-proofed letterbox were fitted to the home. The family gave evidence at Crown Court trial;

    —  an elderly woman living alone was terrified by the behaviour of children and teenagers in the area and particularly at Halloween when she sat at home with all the lights off that evening to avoid any conflict but risking having a fall at home;

    —  people who are frightened of going out at night because of the abusive young people on the streets.

  The ongoing nature of the behaviour and the fact that victims cannot see an end to the incidents that are taking place around them may lead to depression, difficulty in sleeping, dependence on anti-depressants, relationship difficulties, fear, anger, anxiety, inability to leave home and inability to carry on life as normal. Victim Support volunteers who have contact with anyone in this situation offer a valuable opportunity for a victim to share their experiences with someone who can empathise and who can provide information about different ways to resolve the difficulties.

  Victim Support is funded to assist victims of crime; but not all anti-social behaviour is criminal, therefore there is a gap in the provision of support services to people affected.

  Some of the incidents may result in a criminal prosecution and in those situations, the Witness Service, run by Victim Support, is available in all magistrates' courts and the Crown Courts to provide witnesses with support and information. The core service that is available to witnesses includes pre-trial visits so that a witness is familiar with the layout of the court and the court process, arrangements for witnesses to come into court in such a way that they do not have contact with the defence, support and information on the day at court and referral on to other organisations after court if required.

  It is a concern to us that there is no dedicated court-based support service for witnesses in the civil courts where some cases of anti-social behaviour are dealt with. This gap in services is a main theme in the Home Office research report What works for victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour published in July 2004 and Victim Support agrees with its recommendation that:

    Crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) and criminal justice system agencies use their powers to procure a range of dedicated services to ensure that victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour are offered appropriate support at every stage in the process from when an incident occurs, through investigations, during court hearings and beyond. [151]

  Victim Support would like to be involved in any plans to fund the extension of support services whether in the community or in the civil courts because of our expertise and understanding of victim and witness issues and concerns.

15 September 2004

Annex A

VICTIM SUPPORT'S RESPONSE TO RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY—TAKING A STAND AGAINST ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

  Victim Support is very pleased to respond to the Home Affairs Committee's invitation for written comments on the Government's white paper Respect and responsibility—taking a stand against anti-social behaviour to inform the Committee's session on 25 March 2003.

  Victim Support is the national charity working to help victims of crime. Each year, trained volunteers and staff based in a network of local services offer emotional support, practical help and information to over one million victims of crimes ranging from burglary to the murder of a relative. Victim Support runs the Witness Service in every criminal court in England and Wales. Here, every year, trained volunteers offer support and information to over a quarter of a million witnesses, victims and their families before, during and after hearings. Victim Support also runs a telephone supportline for victims of crime offering information and referral to local Schemes. Victim Support works to increase awareness of the effects of crime and to achieve greater recognition of victims' rights.

  Due to the short timescale for responses, we have been selective in our comments. As the national charity for victims and witnesses of crime we have confined our response to issues in Respect and responsibility that are of direct relevance to victims and witnesses.

  Anti-social behaviour is not a victimless crime; it can blight people's lives. We agree with the Government's stance that as a society we need to take the effects of anti-social behaviour seriously and respond to the needs of people who are coping with the effects of anti-social behaviour (1.7). We welcomed the introduction of Anti-social Behaviour Orders (under the Crime and Disorder Act) and are supportive of the proposals in the White Paper to extend the support and protection made available to victims and witnesses. In particular, we would like to see a simplification and streamlining of processes so that more victims and witnesses will be able to access support and protection if they so wish.

VICTIM SUPPORT'S SERVICES AND THE WHITE PAPER

  We are concerned that the white paper does not accurately reflect Victim Support's current service provision. Victim Support provides a service to victims and witnesses of criminal anti-social behaviour. Our community based Victim Support services offer information, practical assistance and emotional support to people who have been the victims of criminal anti-social behaviour (either against individuals or residential property). In addition, Victim Support's Witness Service now operates in all the criminal courts in England and Wales. While the white paper does refer to the Witness Service (page 11 and page 67 paragraph 4.7) it should be made explicit that Victim Support is currently only funded to provide this service in the criminal courts. Victim Support is not currently funded to provide a service to victims and witnesses of non-criminal anti-social behaviour.

ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

  Victim Support is concerned that victims of anti-social behaviour are given the right type of support. We welcome the Government's recognition (4.8) that an inadequate response can leave victims feeling "isolated and unsupported". We believe that all the authorities that come into contact with victims of anti-social behaviour (both within the criminal justice system and beyond) need to take action to respond to the needs of victims and have a duty to ensure that victims and witnesses receive the support they need.

Information Provision

  We believe that victims of anti-social behaviour will require adequate information about how the local authority, police or social landlord has responded. For example, where an ASBO is granted victims must be informed what behaviour is prohibited by the order and what they can do if the order is breached. Victims should also be notified of any appeal and the outcome, including details of any other orders.

  It is very positive to read that the Government believes agencies should provide adequate information about ASBO's to the public and that whichever agency the public contact they receive a consistent response (4.9). Victim Support agrees with the Government's proposal that social landlords can build on and strengthen local authorities work in the area of anti-social behaviour by publishing their policies and procedures on anti-social behaviour so that tenants are aware of how their landlord can respond to anti-social behaviour (4.38). However, we would also like the Government to produce more detailed guidance on the responsibilities of local authorities, community accreditation schemes and community support officers to provide information to individual victims and witnesses.

Reporting systems

  Effective and accessible reporting systems are essential if victims and witnesses are to feel that their interests are being taking into account. Such systems should address victims' and witnesses' need for protection including protection of identity as well as the provision of any relevant crime prevention measures. Such provision will not be resource neutral. We look forward to more detailed proposals on how good practice will be collected and guidance issued.

Training

  Victim Support believes that all agencies that provide services to people affected by crime should receive training to enable them to provide an appropriate and sensitive response[152]. Victim Support provides a consultancy service which can provide appropriate training to other agencies.

Referral

  We believe that effective referral systems should be put in place and maintained to ensure that all victims and witnesses affected by criminal anti-social behaviour are told about Victim Support's services. We would very much welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. In cases where the anti-social behaviour is not criminal it is important that agencies are aware of the other local sources of support available.

Hate crimes

  Victim Support believes that agencies must take the effects of racial and homophobic crimes on victims and witnesses into account when planning services and responses to anti-social behaviour. It will be particularly important to ensure that staff are trained and supported in understanding the effects of hate crimes.

CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES

  We have long stressed that young people are more often the victims of crime than adults. We are very pleased that the Government has emphasised this fact in its white paper (2.3). In addition we welcome the Government's comments on how anti-social behaviour can affect young people and families (2.20) and agree with the Government's view that families coping with crime may need specialist, intensive and long-term support tailored to their particular needs. However, the white paper does not go into detail about how the needs of young people coping with the effects of crime will be addressed. We suggest that more focus needs to be put on how we can respond to the needs of young people who are coping with the effects of anti-social behaviour.

HOUSING

  We welcome the Government's proposal that when possession cases go to court, judges will now consider the impact of the anti-social behaviour on the victim, witnesses and the wider community. [153]However we would ask that more detailed guidance be produced on how the impact on the victim is assessed. It is vital that housing officers are trained to make assessments sensitively. We would be happy to comment further on this from our experience of working with victims.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

  Victim Support is interested to note the Government's proposal to include restorative justice programmes in its anti-social behaviour strategy. Whilst we agree that research has shown that many victims who participate in restorative justice programmes find it a positive experience, we stress that no individual who has been the victim of anti-social behaviour should be expected to take part in the process unless they choose to do so. Victims should be given the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether to be involved and the level of their involvement.



Annex B

VICTIM SUPPORT REFERRAL STATISTICS RELATING TO SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE, HARASSMENT, RACIALLY MOTIVATED OFFENCES AND PUBLIC DISORDER FOR 2002-03 TO 2003-04:Victim Support Witness Service
Number of referrals
Crime type2002-032003-04 %+/-
Harassment7,95910,499 31.91%
Criminal damage14,624 18,64127.47%
Public order, drunk & disorderly and affray 11,65115,15230.05%


Racially motivated offences
5,0715,2523.57%
Victim Support community based service
Number of referrals
Crime type2002-032003-04 %+/-
Harassment3,1385,030 60.29%
Criminal damage195,405 209,4957.21%
Racially motivated offences20,950 33,37459.30%





151   Hunter, C., Nixon, J. & Parr, S. What works for victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour. London: Home Office, July 2004. (Currently accessible via the `Together' website at http://www.together.gov.uk/home.asp) Back

152   Victim Support, (February 2002) Criminal neglect-No justice beyond criminal justice (policy document). London: Victim Support. Back

153   Page 60. Back


 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2005
Prepared 19 January 2005