NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is conducting a survey to help shape victim support services available for people affected by crime across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear.
A key part of this ‘victim needs assessment’ is a survey inviting local people to have their say to help improve the experiences for future victims.
The PCC’s new Northumbria Victims of Crime Survey will run from Friday 1 August until 7 September.
It provides an opportunity for the PCC to hear the views of adults and young people affected by crime as well as the service providers and professional who help victims and survivors cope and recover from their experience.
More than 30,000 victims have been supported in 2024-25 through the services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which cover a range of specialist areas including sexual abuse, hate crime and violence.
By understanding people’s views and experiences, the PCC hopes to identify where existing services are effective and accessible, as well as highlighting areas for improvement by identifying any unmet or emerging victim needs.
This insight will help shape future support services in the local area and ensure those at the greatest risk of harm receive the support hat works best for them.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “I know the impact of crime can be life-changing but with help and support you can recover from your experience and get your life back on track, so we need to get this right.
“I want to make sure we understand people’s experiences in order to make sure we are supporting victims in our area as best we can. To do this we need to listen and put the voice of the victim at the centre of plans and improvements.
“And so with this survey, we are reaching out to those who have experienced crime and found themselves navigating the criminal justice system. With this survey I want to find out how well existing referral processes and support services are working, and where improvements might need to be made in the future. We can then feed this into plans as we look to commission services for 2026. By getting this right we are able to reach victims of crime with the best support to meet their needs and also ensure we are evolving provisions to meet new challenges and demands.”
Supporting victims is a key priority in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan for safer streets and stronger communities. The Plan details commitments around working with Northumbria Police and the victim services to improve awareness of support and ensure its easily accessible, whether a crime has been reported to the police or not.
The Northumbria Victims of Crime Survey is a crucial part of the PCC’s ongoing commitment to support victims of crime and ensure that the services available are effective, comprehensive, and responsive to the needs of local communities.
The surveys can be found below:
Anyone affected by crime who needs help can speak to the Northumbria Victim and Witness Service by calling 0800 011 3116.
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