AN EMOTIONAL and practical support service for victims of crime in Oxfordshire will be paid for by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner's office for the first time from this month.

Thames Valley, Surrey and Sussex Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) signed a “landmark” £1.8m-a-year contract with charity Victim Support.

The organisation’s victim referral and assessment centre and local support services will now be managed through a local contract for the first time.

It is part of decentralisation as The Ministry of Justice transfers the commissioning of the majority of victims’ services to regional PCCs this month.

Thames Valley PCC Anthony Stansfeld said: “This contract is an important step towards providing an integrated set of services for victims in Thames Valley.

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“The experience and knowledge that Victim Support brings, together with their many volunteers, will be invaluable to me and to those most harmed by crime.”

The contract also allows other PCCs to join the agreement in future, potentially helping save costs.

The charity’s chief executive Mark Castle said: “With the secured funding we will be able to offer more comprehensive support to people than in the past and working in partnership to deliver excellent value for money.

“We are very proud of what Victim Support has achieved in Surrey, Sussex and the Thames Valley and our staff and trained volunteers who have been delivering high- quality services for many years.

“As a charity we rely on donations from the public as well as contracts like this one.”

 

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