the future of victims’ services in lincolnshire conference and workshops 17 th june 2014

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire

The Future of Victims’ Services

in Lincolnshire

Conference and Workshops

17th June 2014

1


Welcome and Opening

Alan Hardwick

Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire

2


Victims and the

Criminal Justice Process

Peter Wright

Governor, HM Prison Lincoln

Chair, Victims and Witnesses Delivery Group

3


Overview: the EU Directive and the Victims Code of Practice.

The Local Criminal Justice Board.

Problems in how we identify vulnerable victims and support them?

4


5

Overview of what is changing: the EU Directive and the Victims Code of Practice.




6

Directive: 2012/29/EU



• Directive 2012/29/EU of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

• UK has until 2015 to comply.

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Victims' rights throughout criminal proceedings:

• Information• Interpretation and translation• Victim support - general and specialist.• Individual assessment of protection needs.• Training of practitioners.• Coordination.

8


EU Directive

•Recognises special needs of vulnerable victims - by individual assessment.

•Provides for range of special measures to protect such victims during investigations and court proceedings.

•Children always presumed to be vulnerable but also particular attention to victims of gender based violence and domestic violence

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10


The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime

Section 32 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Implements Directive: 2012/29/EU

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The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime

“The Secretary of State must issue a code of practice as to the services to be provided to a victim of criminal conduct by persons appearing to him to have functions relating to —

(a)victims of criminal conduct, or

(b)any aspect of the criminal justice system.”

12


The Victims Code of Practice

Section 34: Effect of non-compliance

“(1)If a person fails to perform a duty imposed on him by a code issued under section 32, the failure does not of itself make him liable to criminal or civil proceedings.

(2)But the code is admissible in evidence in criminal or civil proceedings and a court may take into account a failure to comply with the code in determining a question in the proceedings.”

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Also….

Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 if a victim of crime remains dissatisfied with the response to their complaint, they can take their case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman via their MP.

14


The Code of Practice

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime sets out the rights of victims of crime and governs the services provided to them by criminal justice organisations.

Criminal justice organisations = service providers.

15


The Code of Practice

Explains the entitlements of victims and the services to be provided at each stage.

Also “Enhanced Entitlements” for:

Victims of the most serious crime.

Persistently targeted victims.

Vulnerable and intimidated victims.

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The Code and Commissioning

Critically important that all CJ organisations comply with the code to the fullest extent and deliver the victim services they are required to provide.

LCJB is reviewing the compliance of all agencies in Lincolnshire.

18


The Code and Commissioning

The PCC will be commissioning services that supplement the core victims services that CJ organisations provide in compliance with the code.

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LCJB

Victims and Witnesses Group: gap anaylsis on Victims Code of Practice.Restorative justice governance.Advice to the Police and Crime Commissioner on the commissioning of victim services.And the position is…..?

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Victims with Enhanced Entitlements under the VCOP

Victims of the most serious crime.

Persistently targeted victims.

Vulnerable and intimidated victims.

22


Governance

Work is taking place in Lincolnshire to bring vulnerable adult victims under the remit of the Adult Safeguarding Board: the victim would therefore be seen as a person at risk and agencies would be required to safeguard them in conformity with the VCoP at least.

Julie Flint23


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1. Witness Care Unit

2. Restorative Justice

Chief Inspector Phil Baker

Criminal Justice, Lincolnshire Police

25


WCUEMCJS

•A four force collaboration on Criminal Justice Services.

Witness Care Unit

•A three force collaboration service (Lincolnshire, Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire)•Proposed Role – Witness Contact Unit•How will this fit with Victim Services?

26


Restorative Justice

What is Restorative Justice?

How does it work?

What are we doing at a Force, and County level?

February 2014 Julie Flint27


Restorative Justice

RespectRestorative Justice shows Respect for all those involved

ResponsibilityIt encourages Responsibility for actions taken

RepairIt seeks to repair the harm caused

28


What is Restorative Justice?

“Restorative processes bring those harmed by crime and conflict, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, by enabling everyone effected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward” (Restorative Justice Council)

“The term Restorative Justice embraces a number of approaches to deal with offenders and those who break the ‘rules’ of communities. These include mediation, community justice schemes, reparation projects as well as Restorative Conferencing and Community Disposals” (ACC Garry Shewan – Greater Manchester Police)

February 2014 Julie Flint29


Does it work? RJ has been shown to reduce re-offending (e.g., reduces the frequency in re-

offending),

RJ has significant cost benefits, increases efficiency and use of resources,

RJ is able to improve public confidence and satisfaction by directly engaging the affected parties in the disposal

Using data from 7 Force areas, and if applied to Lincolnshire, it could be expected that a reoffending rate of just 9% would be witnessed compared to 21% for other disposal methods.

Data provided by the Restorative Justice Council shows that for every £1 spent on RJ, £9 is saved within the Criminal Justice system

30


Use within the Force Area – Restorative Community ResolutionsLast Year 1,629

Main Areas

Violence Against the Person 392

Shoplifting 492

Other Theft 722

This Year 1,974 (up 17%)

Main Areas

Violence Against the Person 505 (up 22%)

Shoplifting 752 (up 34%)

Other Theft 967 (up 25%)

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LCJB Programme BoardA Programme Board has been formed to provide a county-wide approach to Restorative Justice. Those agencies involved include; Probation, YOS, Victim Support, HMP Lincoln, Lincoln Council and Lincs Police.

The Aim of the Board is to provide a “Pavement to Prison” service with a view of meeting the needs of as many victims as possible.

Pavement to Prison

Level One – Community Resolution

Level Two – Community Justice Conference

Level Three – Pre-Sentence Conference

Level Four – Post Sentence Conference

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Force Developments

Briefings for front line Officers have been conducted and will continue

In-house trainer identified and will be able to deliver training by the end of June

Promotional information and guidance has been produced and is being circulated

A Delivery Plan has been developed and is being progressed

Volunteers have been recruited and continue to be recruited

A Victims Survey Questionnaire has been developed and responses are being collated

Champions (Officers and PCSOs) for each area have been identified and continue to come forward


Conference being planned, (unconfirmed date set for 3rd Oct)

A DVD to be used as a training aid and promotional purposes is being planned

A Quality Assurance tool has been created and is being used to identify areas of strength and where improvement is necessary

35


Developing and Enhancing Services For Victims of Crime

Michelle Howard

Victims, Witnesses and Partnerships Lead Officer

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire

36


Changing Commissioning Landscape

Transfer of MoJ funding to PCCs to enable local commissioning of services for victims of crime – Victims Services Grant

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) Responsibility for commissioning services in Lincolnshire from April 2015

• Some MoJ funded services cease October 2014 - impact in Lincolnshire minimal Emotional and practical support services for victims of crime

MoJ retaining responsibility for ‘high impact, low volume’ services: National Homicide Service Court Based Witness Service Support for Victims of Human Trafficking Rape Support Centres Some National Telephone Helplines Some SV / DV Support

Anti-Social Behaviour commissioning powers and responsibilities Some ASB outside of the scope of the Victims Services Grant

37


Changing Commissioning Landscape

Significant changes

Part of a strategic move to more personalised services for local people

Opportunity to review existing provision, processes and services and enhance to ‘offer’ to victims in Lincolnshire

Not just through ‘commissioning’ services Opportunity to review processes, service provision, gaps in provision, duplication ‘Joining the dots’ Exploring future partnership working opportunities Identifying and supporting vulnerable and repeat victims Exploration of a range of commissioning and service delivery options

38


Key Responsibilities

Victims Code (Published October 2013): gives victims a legal right to receive a minimum standard of service from the Criminal Justice System including:

Assessment of Need Information about Victim Services Appropriate Referral

EU Directive; Rights, Support and Protection of Victims of Crime (Articles 8 & 9): comes into force November 2015 and creates minimum standards for general and specialist support services for victims

This includes provision for victims to access support irrespective of whether they have reported the offence

39


Commissioning and Service Development Needs

Two Key Areas of Work:

1.Referral Mechanism for Victims and Initial / General Support Existing MoJ funded service to cease in April 2016 Needs analysis in progress Interoperability challenge across the country

2.Local, specialised support services Opportunity to enhance service provision, prioritising;

• Victims of the most serious crime

• Persistently targeted victims

• Vulnerable and intimidated victims

*Workshops focussed on local services and supporting processes

40


Victims’ Services – Outcomes and ‘Categories of Need’

‘Cope’ and ‘Recover’ are core areas that services will need to address and demonstrate outcomes againstCommissioned services must be focussed on measuring success based on:

how a service helped a victim to cope with the immediate impacts of crime and recover from the harm experienced

Additionally, services will need to ensure that the holistic needs of victims are met: Happiness Wellbeing Health Inclusion Empowerment

41


Victims’ Services – Outcomes and ‘Categories of Need’

‘Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses’ (2012) states that during the course of their intervention, services should consider the needs of victims in line with 8 key categories of need in order to support victims to cope and recover:

Mental and Physical Health Shelter and Accommodation Family, friends and Children Education, Skills and Employment Drugs and Alcohol Finance and Benefits Outlook and Attitudes Social Interactions

*Please consider these requirements during workshop discussions

42


Police and Crime Commissioner’s Vision

Victims at the heart of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Plan (2013-2017) Also see: Annual Report 2013 – 2014

PCC is committed to ensuring victims are at the heart of Lincolnshire’s approach to enhancing the ‘offer’ for victims and commissioning local services that:

Improve coordination, consistency and access to services for victims in Lincolnshire Are developed and commissioned in a way that builds on existing good practice

including small, specialised services Increase confidence and satisfaction for victims Provide consistent, value for money and integrated services based on victims needs Enhance and build upon a victim oriented approach to restorative justice Ensure that services are focused on ‘cope and recover’ outcomes for victims

PCC keen to maximise opportunities brought about by local commissioning of victims services

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Lincolnshire Allocation (£)

Criteria and Comments

13/14 £264,317 Building capacity and capability of potential service providers; prepare for local commissioning; associated costs; commissioning RJ services (not ring-fenced to RJ)

Carried forward to 14/15

14/15 £248,433 Services for victims of crime; services for victims of SV / DV; support services for family members; associated costs; meet requirements of victims directive; RJ (not ring fenced to RJ)

Cannot be carried forward to 15/16

15/16 £584,000 As per 14/15 plus; funding to deliver referral service

Total £1,096,750

This funding significantly enhances the total resource available for victims in Lincolnshire compared to previous years

New service provision will be operational from April 2015


Preparation for the New Commissioning Landscape

The PCC has a key role in ensuring the victims pathway through the Criminal Justice System and beyond is smooth and that all partners work effectively to meet the personalised needs of victims including those with complex needs

The PCC recognises that a clear, local plan is required to ensure success against a backdrop of a rapidly changing landscape and a challenging timescale in which to deliver

In order to develop a clear and coordinated local plan, there is a need to fully understand and review existing provision and processes, identify opportunities for development and to scope future service needs

Knowledge and expertise of key partners is key to developing an effective local response

• Scoping already in progress• Workshops• Focus Groups and On-going Dialogue• Consideration of co-commissioning opportunities

45


Workshop Introduction

Michelle Howard

Victims, Witnesses and Partnerships Lead Officer

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire

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Table Subject Area Facilitator

1 Sexual Violence Simon Lovett

2 Young People Youth Offending Service

3 Road Victims Simon Head

4 Restorative Justice Nick Hall

5 Hate Crime Wesley Shelbourne

6 Domestic Abuse Karen Shooter

7 Anti-Social Behaviour Heidi Ryder

Workshop Session 1 (12 noon – 1.30pm)


Workshop Questions

What is the current provision across Lincolnshire for this area of work?

Do we have the right services, in the right place at the right time?

Is there a fair access to services across the county?

Do you feel there are any gaps in current provision?

Are you aware of any potential duplication in services?

How and when are vulnerable people identified and supported?

How could partner agencies work better together to meet the needs of victims?

How can the PCC and his team engage with victims to understand their perspective and needs as part of this process and beyond?

How aware are organisations of the Victims Code of Practice, Victim’s Charter and forthcoming EU Directive and what can we do to increase knowledge?

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Table Subject Area Facilitator

1 Sexual Violence Simon Lovett

2 Young People Christian Barrett

3 Road Victims Simon Heads

4 Restorative Justice Nick Hall

5 Hate Crime Wesley Shelbourne

6 Domestic Abuse Karen Shooter

7 Anti-Social Behaviour Heidi Ryder

Workshop Session 2 (2.15pm – 3.45pm)


Workshop Questions

What is the current provision across Lincolnshire for this area of work?

Do we have the right services, in the right place at the right time?

Is there a fair access to services across the county?

Do you feel there are any gaps in current provision?

Are you aware of any potential duplication in services?

How and when are vulnerable people identified and supported?

How could partner agencies work better together to meet the needs of victims?

How can the PCC and his team engage with victims to understand their perspective and needs as part of this process and beyond?

How aware are organisations of the Victims Code of Practice, Victim’s Charter and forthcoming EU Directive and what can we do to increase knowledge?

50


Summary and Close

Summary and Next Steps

Workshops Procurement Workshop (26th June 2014) Victims Code / Victims Directive Workshop Cope and Recover Outcomes Workshop

Questions, comments, feedback

51

the future of victims’ services in lincolnshire conference and workshops 17 th june 2014

Documents

rights of victims

victims act

protection of victims

entitlements of victims

victims of gender

targeted victims

intimidated victims

victims of crimesection