Author and Job Role: Lucy Thomas, Commissioning & Policy Lead for Victim Services
Protective Marking: OFFICIAL
Executive Summary:
Police & Crime Commissioners have the statutory responsibility to provide services to support victims cope and recover. The Victim & Witness Care Unit is jointly funded between the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Surrey and Surrey Police to support victims and witnesses.
Background
- Courts are currently experiencing notable backlog in trials, and this is increasing the caseload of the victim and witness care officers within the unit. Many victims are also feeling a heightened level of anxiety post-pandemic and combined with the current economic climate, this is creating a complexity of need, elongating the timeline for support. These combined factors have generated unprecedent demand for the unit and OPCC and Surrey Police is to increase resourcing to ensure the unit continues to provide high quality support which meets victims’ needs.
Recommendation
- Additional funding (outlined below) is provided to the Victim and Witness Care Unit to increase resources to manage demand and support victims to cope and recover.
- 2023/24 – £52,610.85
- 2024/25 – £52,610.85
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: Commissioner Lisa Townsend (wet signed copy held in Commissioner’s Office)
Date: 20th October 2022
All decisions must be added to the decision register.