PCC awards victim service contracts totalling £1m

Contracts totalling £1m over three years have been awarded by Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson for new services to support victims of crime and anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire and Swindon.

The services, which will start in April 2019, will provide practical and emotional support to victims to help them to cope and recover.

The support will be provided face-to-face and over the phone, helping the victims to rebuild confidence. Security measures will also be available to make people feel safer.

Victim Support will look after adult victims and Community First's Youth Action Wiltshire will provide support to young people. The services will be on top of the help offered by Horizon Victim and Witness Care.

Mr Macpherson said: "I have the responsibility for making sure that victims get the support they need.

"I am delighted to invest £1 million over the next three years to make sure this happens. I look forward to working with both Victim Support and Youth Action Wiltshire to help people cope and recover from the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour."

Wayne Stevens of Victim Support Wiltshire said: "We know that being a victim of crime can turn people's lives upside down. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner and his team to ensure people get the help they need, when they need it."

Steve Crawley, who is head of Youth Action Wiltshire, said: "We are extremely excited and proud to be providing this new service for young victims of crime and anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire and Swindon.

"We very much look forward to working collaboratively with the Office of the PCC, the Horizon team, our referral and delivery partners, young people and their families to ensure young victims of crime have the practical and emotional support they need to cope with and recover from their experiences."