Supporting Victims

Question 1

Who is a victim?

Answer 1

defined by the criminal law, direct and indirect victims, ripple effect - victims in the wider community

Question 2

Effects of victimisation

Answer 2

direct/compensatable losses - damage to property, injury and unknown long term injury. financial issues - financial loss, time off work. psychological/social - loss of faith, fear/depression

Question 3

Time-scale of effects - Shapland, Willmore and Duff 1985

Answer 3

short lasting and long lasting effects: overall conclusions

• longitudinal studies
• property crime victims appear to recover to their previous state in a few weeks
• severe sexual assault - long lasting chronic effects

Question 4

Victim Support

Answer 4

1998 - VS launched
2008 - VS unites as one national charity
2014 - funding for VS devolved to the police
diverse service - hotline, visits, telephone

Question 5

Bradford 2011

Answer 5

2011 - contact with VS was associated with greater satisfaction with the way the police handled the case

Question 6

Freeman 2013

Answer 6

2008/2009
19% of victims said they wanted support from VS
5% recalled contact with VS - victim was very/fairly satisfied

Question 7

Tarling et al 2000

Answer 7

intimidation of victims more likely in relation to DV and includes verbal abuse
8% of direct witnesses reported intimidation from the offender