19th May 2025

Kent PCC's victim support contract supported 84,000 victims last year.  

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has provided support services for 83,889 victims in 2024-2025, including specialist support for children and young people, therapeutic services, trauma counselling and specialist sexual abuse and domestic abuse support.

The PCC provides around £4.2 million funding for 40 charities and organisations who work with people, whether they’ve reported the crime to the police or not.  Last year these services received nearly 80,000 new referrals and their caseloads are rising. Support services for domestic violence and sexual violence are particularly under pressure. 

Nearly 81,000 clients reported the crime to the police, but nearly 3000 didn’t.  Many victims quoted delays in the criminal justice system, fear of the process, distrust of the police and fear of retaliation as reasons for not calling the authorities.  

5,368 people have said they already feel stronger and better able to cope because of the support they’ve received. 

Matthew Scott says,

“Supporting victims has always been my priority. I’m very proud to work with such incredible, tireless charities and counsellors.  They make such a difference to people’s lives, often turning the fortune of families around, by understanding, listening and offering heart-felt advice and guidance.  

I’d like to thank them and the commissioning team in my office for delivering such service to the people of Kent.” 

Example*: woman A fled her violent ex-partner with her children. She needed support with the criminal justice process and help resettling herself and children, including help registering with GPs and finding “safe” schools which were unknown to her ex-partner. She also needed financial advice and counselling.  Her IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser) helped her with all these things over a course of 8 months. Woman A now reports feeling freer and safer, as do her children. She says she has been able to widen the family’s social activities and take control of her life. She is very grateful for all the support which was provided and is looking forward to a future free of abuse.  

ENDS 

Note to editors:

*This case study is an abbreviated example from one of our charities. We will not give out any more details of cases like this, to protect the identity of the victims.

All the charities we fund are listed on this page on our website.

PCC Commissioning