15th October 2024

More than 100,000 victims supported by Kent’s PCC.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott says he’s delighted and proud that his office has been able to help more than 102,000 victims of crime across the county last year.

That’s a rise of 2% on the previous year and the types of crime now being supported have increased too.  

Matthew Scott’s Commissioning Team secures funding for projects to support victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, hate crime, gang exploitation, bereavement caused by road death, fraud and a programme of “restorative justice”, where offenders and their victims are brought together to explore the harm caused.

He also supports a programme which works with persistent perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking, in a bid to stop that behaviour.

More than 4400 victims of domestic abuse, both adult and children, were supported by 16 different specialist charities; nearly 3000 victims of sexual violence, both adult and children, were counselled and 8 families who’d suffered bereavement because of domestic abuse were helped. 

Of those victims, nearly 900 who had previously not reported the crime to the police, felt able to do so, thanks to the support they received. 

Most victims felt more able to cope as a result. The below are quotes from victims supported by Independent Sexual Violence Advisers:

• Every week has gotten easier, and things are now better with her help. She has given me the strength to believe that things will be ok. I owe her a lot.
• I feel I’m much better at speaking with my friends and family and everyone else. I used to run away from people. It has been great for me.
• I feel a lot better. I feel a lot calmer and settled with a lot of things, and just a lot more able to cope with emotions and communicate them.
• I feel a lot better; my ISVA was my point of contact for everyone, which was really helpful.
• My ISVA stayed with me from start to finish, the continuity was brilliant. My ISVA is very good at what she does and is very down to earth, It made it so much easier for us knowing she was there, especially at court.

Matthew Scott says,

“It’s always overwhelming when you hear the numbers of people being helped by the charities my team commissions.  From elderly people being abused in their own homes, to young children traumatised by violence or family aggression. We help victims of burglary, hate crime and stalking and offer intervention programmes to reduce repeat behaviour in perpetrators.”

“Supporting victims is one of the most important roles of a Police and Crime Commissioner and I’m delighted we’ve been able to help even more people last year. Securing funding is always a challenge, but I can assure you my team and I will continue to help victims as much as we can.”

Matthew Scott’s Office is given £2,237, 093 from the Ministry of Justice; the PCC matches this with £2,100,000 from his budget and his Commissioning Team has secured an additional £3,172,439 in grants and funds over the last year.  This additional money is due to cease in March 2025 and work is currently being undertaken to understand the impact of this.  

ENDS