A qualitative examination of engagement with support services by victims of violent crime
| DOI | 10.1177/0269758016649050 |
| Published date | 01 September 2016 |
| Author | Michelle Lowe,Nicola Graham-Kevan,May Irving,Phaedra Robinson,Matthew Brooks,VJ Willan,Marta Karwacka,Rachel Stokes,Jo Bryce,Roxanne Khan |
| Date | 01 September 2016 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
A qualitative examination
of engagement with
support services by
victims of violent crime
Jo Bryce, Matthew Brooks, Phaedra Robinson, Rachel Stokes,
May Irving, Nicola Graham-Kevan, VJ Willan, Roxanne Khan
and Marta Karwacka
School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, UK
Michelle Lowe
University of Bolton, Bolton, UK
Abstract
Research elsewhere has suggested that the level of victim engagement with support services is
generally low, and that many individuals are at risk of trauma symptomology and associated neg-
ative psychological outcomes as a result. The existing literature examining barriers to engagement
with victim services is relatively small and largely quantitative, and a detailed qualitative exam-
ination of decisions to engage with victim services has yet to be undertaken. To address this gap in
the literature, the current study examined the provision of information and referral processes by
the police, initial and follow-up contact with support services, and perceived barriers to engage-
ment. Victim evaluations of the services used were also examined. Seventeen semi-structured
interviews were conducted with the victims of violent crime during a six-month period in a police
force in England and Wales. Participants who engaged with victim services reported experiencing
significant benefits as a result of the support they received; however, there was a generally low
level of engagement with Victim Support and other services in the sample. Several different factors
associated with lack of engagement were identified by the analysis, consistent with the results of
previous research. The implications of the study for developing more effective strategies for
increasing victim engagement, in ways consistent with current local, national and European policy,
are considered.
Corresponding author:
Jo Bryce, School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
Email: jbryce@uclan.ac.uk
International Review of Victimology
2016, Vol. 22(3) 239–255
ªThe Author(s) 2016
Reprints and permission:
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DOI: 10.1177/0269758016649050
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Keywords
Engagement, service delivery, service evaluation, victim support, violent crime
Public policy in the United Kingdom has recently placed greater emphasis on the importance of the
needs of victims and a focus on increasing their engagement with the criminal justice system and
support services (Burrows, 2014; Ministry of Justice, 2015). This is a timely change given that the
Crime Survey for England and Wales recorded 1.9 million violent incidents in 2012/13 (Office for
National Statistics, 2014). These figures suggest that there are a significant number of victims of
violent crime each year who, as a result of their experiences, are at risk of developing trauma
symptoms (e.g., avoidance behaviours, negative moods), which can subsequently lead to problems
such as substance abuse, poor emotional regulation, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders
(Davidson et al., 2010; Stimmel et al., 2014; Walsh et al., 2012). These victimisation effects are not
limited to the specific time at which the crime occurs: they can also have long term consequences
for psychological and physical health (Halligan et al., 2003).
These complex and potentially long-term effects of victimisation indicate a need to ensure the
availability of and access to appropriate support services for individuals in such situations, to help
them cope with their experiences (Mayhew and Reilly, 2008; Ringham and Salisbury, 2004). This
is reflected in current policy and policing procedures in England and Wales which refer the victims
of violent crime who access police services to Victim Support in order to receive appropriate
emotional and practical help (Freeman, 2013; Lowe et al., 2015; Ministry of Justice, 2015). This is
part of the commitment of the government in England and Wales to a victim-focused approach to
criminal justice, as specified by the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Ministry of Justice,
2015) which sets out the service and support standards that victims of crime can expect from the
police, support organisations and the wi der criminal justice system. It is also con sistent with
European-level policy and requirements for Member States to implement similar service provision
and standards (EU, 2012; Laxminarayan, 2015).
Victim Support is one of the largest providers of services to victims of crime, their families and
witnesses in England and Wales (Lowe et al., 2015; Simmonds, 2013). It started as a voluntary
organisation which mainly supported victims of burglary, and developed over the years to cover a
wide variety of crimes including domestic and violent crime (Maguire and Kynch, 2000). It is now
a large independent charity which was, until 2014, funded largely through an annual grant from the
Ministry of Justice (Freeman, 20 13). However, recent changes in go vernment policy and the
devolution of funding for victim services to local Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) means
that Victim Support may no longer necessarily be the main provider of services at the local level
(Ministry of Justice, 2013a; Simmonds, 2013).
1
Victim Support provides a variety of information, advice and support services using face-to-
face, online and telephone delivery channels. This includes emotional support, advice on personal
safety and compensation, support throughout the criminal justice process, and links to other
sources of help and support (Freeman, 2013; Lowe et al., 2015). It also operates services dedicated
to specific categories of victimisation (e.g., domestic violence, hate crime), and has established
collaborative partnerships with children and women’s support organisations, as well as the police
and local authorities (Lowe et al., 2015; Spalek, 2005).
Current referral procedures require the police to provide victim contact details automatically to
Victim Supportwithin two days of their reportingof a crime, unless they – the victims– specifically
request otherwise (Ministry of Justice, 2015). In cases of domestic violence and sexual assault, the
240 International Review of Victimology 22(3)
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