Spotlight on crime victims (From York Press)

Spotlight on North Yorkshire crime victims

7:39am Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

CRIME victims and witnesses in North Yorkshire are being asked to relive their experiences as part of a drive to keep the region’s new police commissioner in the picture.

Residents will get their chance to vote on who should take up the elected roles – which will replace existing police authorities – in the autumn, with candidates to take on the North Yorkshire position beginning to emerge.

Over the next month, Victim Support will be running focus groups and interviews with those who have been targeted by criminals or witnessed offences to find out how they feel they were treated by police and the justice system.

The North Yorkshire arm of the group said it wanted to raise awareness of issues victims and witnesses faced and ensure the new commissioner for the region had them “on their agenda” when they took up their position in November.

Martin Laux, the Victims’ Services advocate for North Yorkshire, is looking for victims and witnesses of antisocial behaviour, domestic abuse, sexual assault and hate crime to take part.

Victims must have experienced the crime within the last two years and not currently be involved in criminal justice proceedings or a court case relating to the crime.

Mr Laux said: “We are asking local people to take part in this important project to represent the needs and views of people who have experienced crime in North Yorkshire.

“We want to find out how people have been treated as a victim or witness by the police and criminal justice system and if they have found suitable services to support them through a difficult time in their lives.”

Victim Support will be holding focus groups across North Yorkshire throughout February and early March.

If you are interested in taking part in a one of the focus groups or arranging an interview please contact Martin Laux either be emailing martin.laux@victimsupport.org.uk or phoning 7908 958506.

Alternatively, visit victimsupport.org.uk for more details.

The UK’s first police and crime commissioners will be elected by the public on November 15, taking over the role currently carried out by police authorities, and councils will be required to establish police and crime panels to scrutinise the work of those voted into the new posts.