Organisations offered opportunity to help victims of crime

Organisations which can help victims of crime cope and recover from what they have experienced are being offered the opportunity to provide a victim care service for Norfolk and Suffolk.

From today (10 July), Norfolk PCC Lorne Green and Suffolk PCC Tim Passmore are encouraging bids to provide a victim assessment, support and referral service across both counties.

Since 2015, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have been responsible for commissioning support services for victims of crime in their force areas – an entitlement set out in the Victims Code of Practice. Grant funding from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is made available to PCCs for that purpose.

For the last four years, victims of crime in Norfolk have been benefitting from PCC-commissioned support services designed to assess their needs and ensure they have access to support to cope and recover from the impact of the crime. The current service model - the Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care service - was launched by PCC Lorne Green in April 2018, with the existing contract is due to end on 31 March 2020.

The new £3.15 million five-year contract, which will be managed by the Norfolk and Suffolk PCC offices, will secure a service available to all victims of crime, with enhanced support on offer for those who are vulnerable, affected by serious crime or persistently targeted. It will also provide referrals to specialist support services as appropriate.

While the service will respect a victim’s choice whether or not to report the crime, it will ensure the victim is aware of their right to report and how to do so, and support victims through the criminal justice system.

PCC Lorne Green, said: “Supporting victims and reducing vulnerability is one of my key priorities as Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Availability of and easy access to information, advice and support can have a big impact on how victims of crime cope with the immediate and lasting effects of what they have experienced, and how they then move forward with their lives.

“And, for those victims who report what has happened to them, understanding and navigating their way through the criminal justice system can be challenging, so the independent victim advocacy this service provides can be invaluable in helping them on that journey.

“We owe it to victims of crime to ensure the support they need is available. If your organisation can help us in delivering that vital support, we’d like to hear from you.”

Who can apply and how?

Organisations that can demonstrate they meet the necessary criteria and are able to deliver a service across Norfolk and Suffolk are eligible to apply. Partnership bids will be accepted, however one partner must take the lead and administer the contract/funds on behalf of the partnership.

Full details are available on the Bluelight EU Supply Portal at https://uk.eu-supply.com. All correspondence, including application and clarification questions will be managed through the Portal.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 15 August 2019.