Annual Report 23/24 Accessible Version

To commission needs-led services continued

Key outcomes against all victim services funded in 2023/24 include:

102,736 victim referrals, with 102,479 supported. A 4.3% increase in the number of victims referred and a 2.2% increase in the number supported. All services reported increased complexity in cases, with cost of living adding to this, alongside long wait times for specialist support such as trauma specific therapy and delays within the CJ system.

4,420 DA victims, both adults and C&YP were supported by 16 specialist DA services.

2,965 SV victims were supported, both adults and C&YP across 2 specialist SV support services. Additional funding increased the number of ISVAs resulting in 318 more victims being supported and 72 feeling able to report to the police after engaging with support services.

Of those supported, 87,833 had reported the crime to the police prior to engagement with a service and 891 felt empowered to do so following engagement. Overall, this was a 1.3% decrease in the number of victims reporting to the police across the victim services from 2022/23.

The main reasons for not reporting included: fear it would make the situation worse; existing distrust of police; lack of confidence in the police and CJS; fear of not being believed; fear of repercussion; previous experience of lack of contact / updates from the police; and fear of being judged.

6,966 victims reported they were better able to cope and build resilience to move forward with daily life following engagement with a service.

 

Victims Contracts

In addition to the examples outlined in the previous section, I have several contracts that have been commissioned to provide the core offer of support to victims across Kent and Medway.

Kent Advocacy and Support Service (£1.1m)

This was commissioned during 2022/23 and the service commenced on 1 April 2023. It is a 4-year contract to 31 March 2027 with the option to extend.

It is delivered by Victim Support and provides a trauma informed, needs and risk led approach. The service is available to all victims of recorded crime resident in Kent and Medway, including C&YP regardless of when the crime took place or if it was reported to the police.

Support is also available to close relatives (spouse, partner, relatives in direct line, siblings, and dependants of the victim) particularly those aged 18 years and under.

Specific delivery requirements for the service are:

a) The provision of initial referral and triage for all victims accessing support, this includes supporting the Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) and Medway Integrated Domestic Service (MIDAS) by providing referral and triage for DA victims.

b) Provision of short and long-term support to victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, or when support is accessed to help them move forward with their lives.

c) Advocacy support for specific groups (e.g. Stalking and Hate Crime).

d) Short or long-term support to standard and medium risk DA victims should they choose to remain with the service.

e) Direct support for C&YP.

Outcomes

In 2023/24

A total of 91,222 referrals were received – an average of 22,805 per month – with 73,245 contacted and offered support.

Support provided included practical (e.g. provision of security items), emotional, safety planning and safeguarding. It also included information on the CJS, the rights of those with protected characteristics, restorative justice, and advocacy with statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Improvements were seen in all outcomes measured by the distance travelled survey for victims engaged in the service. The survey tracks their position at the start and end of support against the following six outcomes: ability to cope; experience of the CJS; feeling informed; perception of safety; reintegration; and wellbeing.

 

Kent Restorative Justice (RJ) and Mediation Service (£267,700)

This was commissioned during 2022/23 with the service commencing on 1 October 2023. It is a 4-year contract to 30 September with the option to extend.

It is delivered by Restorative Solutions and provides a trauma informed, needs and risk led approach. The service is accessible to all victims of recorded crime resident in Kent and Medway, regardless of when the crime(s) took place. Provision was extended from the previous contract to include mediation and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Conflict (APVC) interventions. This followed learning and feedback which identified the need for consistent provision in these areas.

The service delivers in the interest of all individuals involved, but is victim led, which at no time should lead to increased risk. Specific risk assessments are conducted for harm related cases such as DA and SA to ensure the risk to the victim is not increased, and delivery is by staff with enhanced training.

The service consists of the following elements:

Direct, indirect, and informal RJ interventions.

APVC interventions.

Mediation processes for repeat and persistent neighbour and community based ASB and crime issues.

The service has experienced some challenges engaging with HM Prisons; in 3 out of 4 cases referred between January and March 2024, they were unable to obtain permission to progress the case with the offender. This can negatively impact on victims as it is a barrier to delivering a direct RJ outcome.

Outcomes

From 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024:

180 referrals received – 67 for RJ, 50 APVC and 10 Mediation.

70% of all referrals were closed with an RJ outcome, which equates to 114 interventions being facilitated.

The conversion rate for APVC was 100%.

Of feedback surveys completed, 4 reported satisfaction with the RJ process, 3 reported an improvement in being able to cope with aspects of everyday life and 7 parents reported satisfaction with the APVC intervention.

 

Case study

Referral to the RJ service by the Youth Justice Team, following an incident where an object was thrown and caused damage. The victim was vulnerable due to several factors and was extremely shaken. The harmer was identified as a young person who may not have considered the impact of their behaviour.

RJ provided a platform for the victim to speak with the harmer and for their wider family to be aware of the incident. Restorative Solutions held a meeting with the harmer via their Early Help worker. It was established that they had already started working on a letter of apology, but RJ provided an opportunity to help them learn from the victim about the impact of their actions. The harmer expressed regret and remorse, considering how their own family may have felt if in the same situation.

The victim felt that it had been useful to talk about what happened and felt well supported through the process.

 

Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service (ISVA) and Sexual Violence Support Service (£450,000)

This service was commissioned during 2017/18 and commenced on 1 April 2019. It was a 3-year contract to 31 March 2022 with the option to extend. The service was due to be re-commissioned in 2023/24, but due to funding uncertainty the contract has been extended for 12 months from 1 April 2025. Re-commissioning will now commence in 2025.

The service is delivered by Family Matters and provides support to victims of rape and SA across Kent and Medway regardless of when the crime took place or if it has been reported to the police. The service supports both adults and C&YP, including their close family members if needed. It provides dedicated ISVAs who deliver independent support, advocacy and impartial advice and information. The service also provides specialist counselling for those that have experienced rape and SA, which can be accessed with or without ISVA support. Most referrals are received from Kent Police and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), but individuals can also self-refer for support.

Demand for therapeutic support continued to grow significantly and unfortunately this has led to extended wait times. It is a growing area of risk and one that will be further impacted by funding uncertainty beyond 31 March 2025. To support the management of demand, Family Matters extended their helpline service to include support sessions for those clients on the waiting list and for family members needing additional specialist support.

Outcomes

In 2023/24:

716 ISVA, 255 Child ISVA and 831 therapy referrals received – a 29% increase on 2022/23.

27% of clients seen by the ISVA service were 17 years or under and 44% aged between 19 and 35.

9% of ISVA clients had not reported the crime to the police at the time of engagement but requested support to do so.

Only 14% of ISVA and CISVA cases ended up going to trial.

Feedback from client satisfaction surveys indicated the support improved overall health and wellbeing, the ability to manage close relationships and connections with loved ones, and the capacity to cope.

 

Quotes from clients

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.

 

Family Welfare Service

This was commissioned in 2021 and is delivered by Victim Support.

It is a bespoke offer, providing tailored support and specialist interventions for close relatives impacted by the offending of David Fuller. It provided a 24/7 support line in the initial stages of notification to the families impacted and at significant points during the CJ process.

During 2023/24 the service continued to provide case worker led support and access to specialist therapeutic services. It has provided much needed and valuable support to the families impacted and has therefore been extended to 31 October 2024.

 

Appropriate Adult Service (£250,000)

This service was commissioned in 2022 and commenced on 1 October 2022. Initially a 2-year pilot, the contract has been extended until 31 March 2025.

The service is delivered by The Appropriate Adult Service (TAAS).

Appropriate Adults (AAs) were introduced under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) to safeguard and reduce the risk of miscarriages of justice.

AAs must support all juveniles (aged under 18) and vulnerable adults, as defined by PACE Code C who are detained in police custody or attend voluntary interviews as a suspect, and they must be independent from policing. The service ensures the rights, entitlements, welfare, and participation of those detained or attending a voluntary interview, in custody or a non-custody setting, are effectively safeguarded.

Outcomes

October 2022 to September 2023, TAAS provided AAs to 2,705 individuals eligible to receive the service (2,379 vulnerable adults and 326 juveniles).

Vulnerabilities of those supported include mental health, anxiety, learning disabilities, depression, self-harm and unable to read or write.

Whilst due to the nature of the service it is not always appropriate to request feedback, it has been overwhelmingly positive with 56% of adults and 41% of juveniles stating the support was excellent.