Victim Support contract

10^th Jan 2023       

PCC announces new Victim Services Contract for Kent and Medway

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has announced Victim Support has secured a £1 million per year contract, to deliver support services to victims of crime for the next 4 years.

Victim Support which was already providing the service in Kent and Medway won the new contract after promising to deliver tailored support for victims of crime, specialized stalking and hate crime advocates, as well as additional aid for children and young people.  

It will also include a new independent victim’s satisfaction survey, to provide relevant feedback which partners can use to improve services.

After a thorough tender process, Mr. Scott awarded the charity the contract. He said,

“I am delighted to be able to extend the support available for victims of crime in Kent and Medway. Victim Support has always provided excellent help and advice, and now we can expand our service to provide even more bespoke support for victims of stalking and hate crime, as well as more help for children and young people.

My recent inquiry into violence against women and girls recommended setting up an independent victim’s satisfaction survey and I am delighted this will now be offered to victims. 

And remember, you don’t need to have reported the crime to the police, to be able to access these valuable services.”

David Naylor, Area Manager for Kent at Victim Support said:

“We’re thrilled that our services have been commissioned for another four years. This contract will allow us to grow our local support offering to include children and young people who have experienced crime, while also building on the success of our existing Hate Crime and Stalking Advocate services.

“As an independent charity, victims can access our services regardless of whether they have reported to the police or not. We look forward to working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner, alongside other local support services, to delivering the best possible support for victims of crime.”

The new contract begins in April 2023.  It is available to all victims of crime, including children under the age of 13, whether they have reported the crime to the police or not.  Support can also be extended to close relatives of victims of crime, particularly to relatives of victims under the age of 18. It can also be provided to people who may experience trauma, having witnessed serious crime.

The charity can be contacted on (phone) or via their website.

Local contact 0808 168-9276

Supportline 0808 168-9111

https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/resources/kent/

For more information about all the charitable services the PCC commissions, please go to www.kent-pcc.gov.uk.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• The new service will provide a countywide Victim’s Advocacy and Support Service.
• The contract is for 4 years which commences on 1 April 2023. There will be the option to extend, depending on funding availability, delivery of a quality service and sustained performance, on a yearly extension basis for a further 3 years.
• The contract value per annum is £1,000,000.
• The service is available to all victims of recorded crime who are resident in Kent, including children and young people regardless of when the crime took place or if it has been reported to the Police. If reported to the Police support must be available at all stages of the criminal justice process and beyond. If not reported to the Police, the service must be accessible and available at the point the victim wishes to seek support.
• This support extends to close relatives of victims, particularly those aged 18 years and under.
• The following groups all fall within scope of the service and those highlighted are enhancements on the current offer,
  • All ages – children (including those under 13), young people and adults.
  • All genders – female, male, transgender, non-binary etc.
  • Regardless of when the crime was committed – recently or in the past.
  • Regardless of whether the crime is reported to the Police or progressing through the CJS e.g., self-referrals or referrals from other partner agencies.
  • Where the victim resides in Kent and Medway.
  • Close relatives of a victim who are under 18 years of age or where particular vulnerabilities are identified and are over 18 e.g., learning disabilities.
  • Victims who are resident in Kent and Medway but have reported a crime to British Transport Police (BTP), Action Fraud or another Police Force Area (PFA).
  • Witnesses to traumatic serious crime where no other support service is available. This will be determined and referred by a direct referral pathway from the Kent Police Major Crime Directorate.