Where next for victim services in England and Wales?
| Date | 10 August 2015 |
| Published date | 10 August 2015 |
| Pages | 245-257 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2014-0024 |
| Author | Iolo Madoc-Jones,Caroline Hughes,Keith Humphries |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
Where next for victim services in England
and Wales?
Iolo Madoc-Jones, Caroline Hughes and Keith Humphries
Dr Iolo Madoc-Jones is Reader
at the Criminology and the
Department of Criminal Justice,
Glyndwr University,
Wrexham, UK.
Dr Caroline Hughes is a Senior
Lecturer and Keith Humphries
is a Visiting Lecturer, both at the
Criminal Justice Department,
Glyndwr University,
Wrexham, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –At a time when funding arrangements are under review, the purpose of this paper is to come
to a better understanding of victim needs and to inform future developments of services in England
and Wales.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper is based on qualitative data gathered from a series of
interviews with 33 individuals working with victims of crime in one police area in England and Wales.
Findings –Better practice and outcomes were associated in respondent’s accounts with the multi-agency
working and end to end case management of needs associated with some victims of rape and domestic
abuse assessed as high risk of harm.
Research limitations/implications –Small-scale qualitative study.
Practical implications –It is argued Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) should explore mechanisms
for extending such services to more victims of crime and ensuring better co-ordination of service delivery.
Originality/value –From October 2014 onwards PCCs are set to take over responsibility for funding victim
services in England and Wales. Though not an uncontroversial development, this sets the context for practice
with victims to be considered afresh and accordingly this paper explores the needs of victims and how they
are met in one police and crime area.
Keywords Services, Needs, Victims, Crime, Co-ordination, Multi agency
Paper type Research paper
Background
Terminological sensitivities exist in the field of victimisation (Spalek, 2006). For the purposes of
this paper we make use of the term “victim”as opposed to “survivor”of crime. We use the term
“victim”because the respondents who contributed to this research used this term themselves.
We use the term “domestic abuse”because it better captures the range of behaviours
associated with violence in the context of personal relationships.
Over the last few years the chances of becoming a victim of crime has appeared to fall
dramatically (ONS, 2013). That said, crime surveys indicate that one in five people will become a
victim of crime or anti-social behaviour per year (ONS, 2013). The Government funds victim
services to the tune of around £151 million per year (Ministry of Justice, 2012) but the provision of
services is complex and a significant number of statutory and voluntary organisations provide a
range of services to victims and witnesses of crime. The process for funding these services is
presently undergoing change. In 2011 the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act abolished
police authorities and transferred responsibility to reduce crime and disorder to newly elected
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). After November 2012 PCCs became responsible for
setting the strategic direction of policing in their police force areas. Building on this responsibility,
from October 2014[1] they became responsible for commissioning a wide range of victim
services. According to the Ministry of Justice (2013) this change is part of a strategic attempt to
Received 11 July 2014
Revised 3 January 2015
1 March 2015
Accepted 23 March 2015
DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2014-0024 VOL. 17 NO. 4 2015, pp. 245-257, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 24 5
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