Commissioning of local services

Victims’ services:

• Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU): The Surrey Police VWCU helps victims of crime cope and heal from their experience. Advice and support is offered to every victim of crime in Surrey, for as long as they need it. Victims can also call or email to request support from the team any time after a crime has occurred. The professional team can help identify and signpost services that are best suited to a victim’s unique situation, all the way to working alongside Surrey Police to ensure they are kept updated with the progress of a case as it progresses through the criminal justice system. The team also has specialist caseworkers working to support victims of fraud and non-intimate stalking, as well as children and young people.
• WiSE Service: What is Sexual Exploitation (WiSE) Project Workers deliver targeted interventions to children and young people who are victims of sexual exploitation (or are considered to be at significant risk). WiSE workers provide dedicated emotional support and practical help to help children and young people identify and exit coercive and exploitative relationships.
• The Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership is a group of independent charities who work together across the whole of Surrey to provide outreach and associated services to anyone who has or is experiencing domestic abuse. Expert staff, including outreach workers, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and Domestic Abuse Outreach Advocates embedded in Surrey Police teams, all work together to provide a listening ear for victims without judgement, offering support and practical advice to victims as well as support for their children.
• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC): RASASC work with anyone in Surrey whose life has been affected by rape or sexual abuse, whether recently or in the past. They provide a range of specialist emotional and practical support services, including counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs). ISVAs provide victims with the support and information they need to make informed choices, take control of their situation and rebuild their life. They will explain options relating to healthcare services and the legal process, and support victims to access services.

Reducing reoffending services:

• The Hope Hub: The Hope Hub and emergency accommodation service works to reduce rough sleeping and prevent homelessness. Through early intervention the service helps improve and minimise mental health issues, reduce worklessness, and reduce dependency on alcohol and drugs through addiction support. Training, upskilling and volunteering opportunities reduce social isolation and exclusion.
• Amber Foundation: Amber’s mission is to transform lives by supporting marginalised young people to move on to sustainable and independent futures that are free from crime. They do this by providing a residential training programme focused on personal development, employability and resettlement skills for homeless, out of work young people aged between 17-30. Amber provides a temporary, safe place to live with up to 30 other young people, and they use their tailored approach that is asset-based and hands on. Based around the principles of restorative practice, their approach seeks to create positive behaviour change through a mix of active participation in the programme, wider community engagement and a focus on residents taking active responsibility for their own decisions.
• Changing Futures Bridge the Gap: The Changing Futures Bridge the Gap service supports people who are experiencing a combination of challenges including mental health issues, substance use, homelessness and domestic abuse. People experiencing multiple disadvantages are often more likely to fall into offending behaviour. Bridge the Gap specialist outreach workers support people’s stability and recovery, enabling them to thrive, work to reduce their substance use and motivation to offend.

Community safety services

• Mediation and Support Coaching service: The service supports communities/neighbours and families to challenge anti-social behaviour and develop respect within the community. The Mediation Service provides a process for dealing with these experiences in a way that allows everyone to be heard and to reach a resolution that is realistic and acceptable to all. While mediation requires the agreement of all involved, individuals can receive expert coaching that helps them develop coping strategies. By focusing on more positive aspects of their life, coaching helps them to support their mental and physical wellbeing. The service supports individuals, families and communities to build relationships, communicate more effectively and address issues before they reach a crisis point.
• Cuckooing Prevention: We have co-commissioned with Public Health a vital specialist outreach service to support victims of ‘cuckooing’ – a term used when someone’s house is taken over for criminal activity, including dealing drugs or carrying out sex work. Victims of this predatory and exploitive practice can include people experiencing addiction, mental health issues, or with learning disabilities and can become prisoners in their own home. The service to date has taken nearly 500 referrals as part of countywide efforts to prevent this harm and to deter and disrupt perpetrators in Surrey. The service works alongside people to understand what is needed to best support them, undertaking work to help build their resilience if at risk or being cuckooed. By responding early, we are protecting and safeguarding some of the county’s most vulnerable people, helping to prevent the risk property closures and minimising impact on the whole community.
• Surrey Women’s Support Centre: This service is aimed at providing therapeutic support for women involved in, or at risk of being involved in the criminal justice system. During therapy, the counsellor addresses many factors recognised as increasing the risk of offending including substance misuse, domestic abuse, mental health related issues and other difficult life experiences

Children and young people services

• Music to My Ears: The Music to My Ears service offers a combination of creative workshops and tailored one-to-one support from a named advisor to help individuals to address the root causes of their vulnerability. Focusing on early intervention that recognises the family, health and social factors that can lead to exploitation, this project aims to divert young people away from criminal exploitation.
• The Youth Hideaway: The Youth Hideaway provides a safe space for young people, where they can meet with their peers, have fun and access robust mental health support. By engaging young people in fun, meaningful activity they are encouraged away from anti-social behaviour. The Youth Hideaway also offers targeted workshops in partnership with schools and other organisations. Examples of these workshops include photography and baking, sign language and managing finances.