Support for Victims

Restorative justice brings those harmed by crime, and those responsible for that harm, into communication with each other.

This contact can offer victims the opportunity to be heard, to ask questions of the offender, and to have their say in the resolution.

It has a proven, significant impact in supporting victims in achieving closure by allowing them to move on with their lives with 85% of participating victims indicating that they would recommend it to others.

A victim of burglary that attended a recent restorative justice meeting in West Yorkshire said: "I can now leave the house without thinking there might be someone in it when I return. It has really helped, it has given me closure, and I feel much more positive.

Restorative Solutions have been commissioned to provide the first-ever county-wide restorative justice programme in West Yorkshire.

If you have been a victim of a crime in West Yorkshire and you are interested in finding out more about Restorative Justice you can learn more by visiting rjwestyorkshire.org.uk, reading this information leaflet or you can contact the service by telephone on 0800 783 1550.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) sets out the minimum standards that must be provided to victims of crime by organisations (referred to as service providers) in England and Wales.

Victims of crime should be treated in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any kind. They also have the following rights:

1. To be able to understand and to be understood
2. To have the details of the crime recorded without unjustified delay
3. To be provided with information when reporting the crime
4. To be referred to services that support victims and have services and support tailored to your needs
5. To be provided with information about compensation
6. To be provided with information about the investigation and prosecution
7. To make a Victim Personal Statement
8. To be given information about the trial, trial process and your role as a witness
9. To be given information about the outcome of the case and any appeals
10. To be paid expenses and have property returned
11. To be given information about the offender following a conviction
12. To make a complaint about your rights not being met

To find out more visit the Government's webpage.

Supporting victims and witnesses is one of the key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan.

93.2% of respondents to the Police and Crime Plan consultation told us that supporting victims and witnesses was important to them, with helping victims of crime to get justice and increasing trust in the criminal justice system scoring most highly within this priority.

People in West Yorkshire want to be safe, feel safe, have trust in their police, and know action will be taken if ever they or their loved ones are harmed.

The Victims and Witnesses Strategy has five clear themes:

• Place Victims at the heart of the Criminal Justice Process
• Equality of Access to Justice
• Victims’ Journey
• Children and Young People
• Vulnerable Adults

Under each theme are statements of intent and ambition that reflect our desire to improve the treatment of victims, survivors, and witnesses within the criminal justice system, and reduce trauma, including, crucially, trauma generated and re-lived through repeated contact with the criminal justice system. This means improving access to special measures for vulnerable victims, all victims of sexual and domestic abuse, and children and young people.

Getting this right across the criminal justice system will improve outcomes, increase the number of people kept safe from their abusers, and increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice.

Read the Victims and Witnesses Strategy.

Victim Support is the main provider of support services to all victims of crime in West Yorkshire, funded by the Mayor.

They provide support for all victims of crime, whether or not they choose to report the crime to the Police.

For many types of crime such as burglary and violence, the Police will automatically refer people to Victim Support.

Contact can be online, by telephone, text, email or letter depending on what your preference is. When you first get in touch with Victim Support, they will talk to you about your particular circumstances, the kind of support you feel you need, and your preferred method of ongoing communication if any. You can have a face to face visit if appropriate.

Victim Support works closely with the more specialist support services described elsewhere, referring victims on when appropriate.

Lesley McLean, Operations Manager of Victim Support, said: "Initial contact is made from our Victim Assessment Referral Centre, usually by phone or letter. A Victim Care Officer will speak to victims to assess needs and risks, whilst discussing support options available. If requested, support is then provided by our local community teams based in hubs in Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Bradford and Calderdale.

"The hubs have appointments and drop-in facilities. In addition, each local community team have a group of volunteers who provide face to face support for as long as the victim needs this.

"This support can be provided in the victim's home where appropriate. Victim Support West Yorkshire also has a live chat facility, where victims can contact us online. This facility can be accessed through the Victim Support website, on the West Yorkshire 'Support near you' page."

CARA is delivered by Restorative Solutions in partnership with the Hamptons Trust. It is a West Yorkshire wide service with a focus on first time/standard perpetrators of domestic abuse who receive a conditional caution.

CARA is a criminal justice response to victims of domestic abuse by enhanced risk management and holding standard risk offenders to account for their actions. The service builds on the successes of similar CARA sites elsewhere in the country and the Restorative Justice Service for victims of crime in West Yorkshire, which Restorative Solutions have been delivering since 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CARA?

CARA (Cautions and Relationship Abuse) is a proven and recognised model of interventions with perpetrators of domestic abuse who are subject to conditional cautions. CARA is evidenced based, and has been evaluated by Cambridge University. The sessions are carefully constructed to enable participants to identify as being abusive and to explore what constitutes healthy, positive relationships. A pair of workshops provide participants with strategies and skills to build respectful relationships. This includes focusing on different aspects of violence and control, and on skills for better relationships and parenting.

Who is it for?

Eligibility is for standard risk first time offenders, issued with a Conditional Caution by West Yorkshire Police (WYP). All referrals/bookings will be made directly by WYP when issuing the Conditional Caution.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Guidance for use of conditional cautions for domestic abuse states police forces must have a robust approach to assessing risk and should only use conditional cautions for cases where a DASH or other risk assessment tool shows that the risk to the safety of the victim and/or family is not higher than the “standard” classification. West Yorkshire Police will use these guidelines when issuing a conditional caution for CARA..

How does it work?

CARA utilises a trauma informed approach and motivational interviewing techniques delivered across the pair of workshops. The aims and objectives of the workshops are to enable offenders:

• To reflect on the offence including personal triggers.
• To gain an understanding of different types of abuse within a family dynamic.
• To recognise physical symptoms of anger and the feelings which lead to anger and then violence.
• To recognise the damaging effects of behaviour on themselves and others.
• To understand personal risk and protective factors.
• To reflect on self-esteem and self-regulation designed to increase personal resilience.
• To establish personal time out strategies and safe conflict.
• To understand communication and conflict resolution skills.
• To identify future strategies for sustaining change.
• To provide signposts to other relevant agencies/organisations

Where do I get more information?

Visit the CARA page on the Restorative Solutions website to find out more.

You can also download the CARA briefing note for West Yorkshire

For further enquiries please contact contact CARA Service Manager Sophie Turner at SophieTurner@restorativesolutions.org.uk.

Privacy

Restorative Solutions Privacy Statement

West Yorkshire Police's Privacy Statement

The Hazlehurst Centre Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) offers free support and practical help to anyone in West Yorkshire who has experienced sexual assault. The service is completely confidential, and you do not have to give any personal information in order to get help.

The service is available 24-hours a day, every day of the year on 0330 223 3617 to provide confidential healthcare and support for children, young people and adults in West Yorkshire

At the centre you will be offered support and guidance, a medical assessment/treatment, a forensic examination, and the opportunity of aftercare referrals for support services. Clients will be offered these services based on their individual needs and can choose to use as much or as little of our service as they wish.  You will need to have an appointment before coming to the centre.

Self Swabbing Statement

To find out more about the West Yorkshire SARC visit hazlehurstcentre.org