Victim Support UK: Support for victims of crime: a personal guide

Victim Support is a UK voluntary organization providing much-needed support to crime victims, where volunteers are trained to listen and help victims psychologically overcome the aftermath of crime. Speaking from my personal experience as a ‘visitor’, this is a brief guide on what to expect when you join Victim Support.

First of all, the personal skills required for this volunteer position require you to be a good listener, understanding, obviously comfortable face-to-face with strangers, have the ability to empower others, and above all, be able to maintain a high standard. of confidentiality.

The training takes place over two weekends where you engage in fun interactive scenario improvisations supposedly between ‘visitors’ (as we are known and as I will continue to call ‘volunteers’ from now on) and victims so that you gain the mindset of what you would ask victims and how you would respond to what victims may ask you. You are also familiar with etiquette and how to stay safe in a stranger’s house.

You get lectures from professionals, like a court prosecutor, for example, brought in to discuss how a case progresses through the court system or perhaps a legal professional to show you how to fill out a criminal injury form with a victim. The training is very relaxed and a lot of fun, while all serious topics are drilled into the mind at the same time. At the end of it all, you are issued a photo ID card that you must show to the victims you visit and you must have a Full Disclosure certificate, which means you are certified to work with vulnerable people. More specific training is also available in the future to help you deal with more serious situations like murder and sexual assault, but for now, it only covers general reference work like robbery, domestic violence, assault, and property abuse.

Once a crime has been committed, the police refer the crime victim to the Victim Assistance office and each case is coded individually. A letter is then sent to the victim from the VS office informing them that they expect a visitor to call or visit the victim’s home to discuss the crime and offer support. Victims can opt out of not being contacted by contacting the office and requesting it. The victim can also choose whether to receive the visit in her own home, meet at VS’s office, or at a neutral location such as a cafe, depending on the circumstances and emotional complexities of the case. However, if the victim does not respond to the opt-out clause, the VS coordinator passes the case to one of the visitors. This is done by calling a visitor and asking if she would like to take on this case; she may have preferences for her own reasons and reserve the right to refuse certain areas or genres and the case will be forwarded to another visitor.

When it comes to contacting crime victims, I personally have always preferred face-to-face contact. Many people feel more comfortable simply calling any of the victims because it is what they are best suited for or due to time constraints. This is perfectly permissible, however I feel that a better conversation and emotional release of what has happened in the victim’s life is always achieved through face-to-face contact. I visited in the evenings which suited me and again visitors can choose when and where to visit. I tended to knock on the door by chance and I have to say that 8 times out of 10 you will probably let the crime victim in. We are taught that even though someone else may answer the door, we should not reveal who we are to anyone but the victim, as sometimes other people in the house may not even know that the victim has had a crime committed against them. (this is pretty unlikely, but could still happen). If there is no answer at the door, the visitor will post a letter through the door informing the victim that they have been contacted and the visitor will phone and arrange a mutually beneficial time for another visit or conversation.

It must be remembered that crime victims may actually be the perpetrators of crimes against other people and this time they have just suffered on the wrong side of the violence. The police have a duty to report these cases to the VS coordinator as special cases. Normally, the coordinator deals with these; Personally, I never had a reference of this type. However, it is always emphasized that as much as you are a lone visitor, you are welcome to bring another visitor with you on a visit if you feel this should be the way to approach it and your coordinator will certainly discuss this. with you. I remember a case in which, approaching the address, I realized that it was a completely boarded up house in a neighborhood and, of course, I would not have gone in alone. It’s very important to trust your instincts as much as possible: my coordinator wouldn’t have known what the house was like until I told her and she agreed that I shouldn’t go in alone.

I haven’t had any nasty situations, I’m pleased to say, but a word, however, on how to stay safe. Always stay in the nearest seat next to a door if you go into a room in the house and sit down; never let the victim come between you and the door. If you’d rather not drink anything if offered (and you can honestly judge this based on the character and demeanor of the person in question, and again, your instincts), then pretend you’ve just had a coffee before going inside. Have a religious pamphlet or Avon make-up pamphlet handy, in cases of domestic violence, so you can pretend you’re there for another reason if you visit a female victim’s home in case the husband returns unexpectedly, then you have a ready excuse as to why you are there and obviously make your excuses and leave as soon as you can. This is all ‘just in case’, as the victim is more likely to meet you elsewhere for a discussion if she feels at risk at home.

In fact, it improves split decision-making about whether to enter a house: if someone seems a little ‘war-o’-wear’ of drugs or drink, then don’t enter. I have a letter from VS ready in my hand (prepared earlier) to give them stating that the VS office will contact them shortly as they did not opt ​​out. I’m just acting like I’ve been told to deliver it to you personally. If someone other than the victim demands that they know who you are, stand your ground and apologize and tell them that you apologize but that it is confidential and that you would be so kind as to pass this letter on to your spouse/partner (again, pre-prepared letter if)? However, follow this up with a phone call to make sure the letter got through. Most people I’ve come across seem to accept that; sometimes i even say yes to think they know who I am, so they are probably right, but I can’t confirm it! I find that he denies most situations.

Another thing I discovered, and simply because I also worked for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, which helps people navigate life’s problems, from guiding them through the maze of welfare to debt crises and homelessness. , is that if I found out by chat. to the victim who was not receiving a benefit that they should be claiming, then I was able to report this to them in passing. It was pretty cool to be able to double serve at times. Make sure that, in case of assault, the victim has completed a Criminal Injuries form to claim monetary compensation if she has suffered physical and psychological injuries.

Finally, it must be said that this line of volunteer work seemed very rewarding, educational and an ideal job in which you can increase your training with your own life experience. There is always someone you can help a little more because of the wealth of knowledge you have gained over the years. I would say that being a visitor is more ideal for someone in their 30s because they will have accumulated a greater “toolkit” of life skills by then to better serve others. It gives me great job satisfaction to think that I am making people feel better about themselves after the devastating situation they have found themselves in. It is a great honor to help victims talk about and address their current situation, and then empower them to move forward and look positively without blaming themselves in the future.