The charity’s five-year strategic roadmap aims to enhance the support offered by committing to five key areas of improvement, including introducing a ‘victims’ code’, a compensation scheme, specialist child support, expanding sexual abuse services and increasing financial fraud expertise.
‘This plan is an ambitious agenda, designed to ensure that victims and witnesses remain at the very heart of Guernsey’s justice system,’ said Peter Harwood, chairman of the service.
‘Despite ongoing financial pressures, we are determined to adapt and deliver the high-standard, compassionate support our community relies on.’
Among its proposals are the intention to improve support for victims of sexual assault, when demand already exceeds the current provision; more expertise and resources to address issues of financial fraud, and to close ‘a significant gap’ in provision for children affected by crime.
The island is also one of few places in the world without a statutory compensation scheme for victims of crime, and the charity wants to work to develop an ‘affordable’ version.
The service is an independent charity dedicated to providing free, confidential and compassionate support to victims and witnesses of crime, as well as helping those navigating family courts, civil proceedings and adoptions.
Its work has been applauded by key justice figures, including the Bailiff, Chief of Police and president of the Committee for Home Affairs.
‘It is vital that all agencies involved in delivering justice across the Bailiwick have victims front and centre of their work,’ said chief of police Damian Kitchen.
‘The confidence that you will be listened to and supported when you are a victim of crime, no matter how serious, is important in ensuring that people report incidents to the police and offenders can be brought to justice.’
The Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, praised the service for ‘enabling those who are victims to access whatever level of support they need and familiarising those who will be witnesses in criminal proceedings coming before our courts about what to expect’.
Home Affairs president Marc Leadbeater said that the service made an essential contribution to local justice.
‘By ensuring victims receive the support they need and helping witnesses prepare to give their best evidence, the service strengthens both confidence in and the effectiveness of our criminal justice system,’ he said.
Elizabeth Couch and Sara Mallett, who together chair the Family Bar, said the support offered resulted in people being able to better engage and follow proceedings and it can assist in reducing anxiety about proceedings which can be stressful for all involved.
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