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Survey aims to shape how police care for victims of crime

People in Devon and Cornwall who have been affected by crime are being asked to take part in an anonymous survey. 

Funded by Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the survey aims to help build a picture of how Devon and Cornwall Police is supporting victims of crime. The results will be used to improve the victim care journey. 

The survey is open to anyone who has been a victim of crime in the past two years, even if they have no’t reported it to police. Anyone under the age of 18 must get permission from a parent or guardian before taking part. 

Those completing the questionnaire will not have to give their name or any other identifying information. It takes around 10 minutes to complete, and people taking part can leave the survey at any time. They can also choose not to answer a question without having to give a reason. 

In 2021-22, 105,181 crimes were reported to Devon and Cornwall Police. Of those, 26,217 were identified as in need of support and directed to the force’s Victim Care Unit, which is funded by the Commissioner.  

She also has in place a 10-year contract with Victim Support to deliver specialist services to anyone affected by crime, a charity which can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of whether a crime has been reported. 

Commissioner Hernandez said: “No one should suffer the consequences of crime without getting the help they need to cope and recover when they need it. 

“Supporting victims is one of my key responsibilities and I am committed to ensuring that everyone who is affected by crime can access high-quality services and is made to feel supported by police. 

“Experiencing crime is different for each person, and can range from mildly annoying to deeply traumatic, so it’s important that police treat everyone with dignity and respect. 

“This independent survey will provide a valuable insight into how the residents of Devon and Cornwall feel about how they have been directed to services and will highlight where improvements can be made, so I encourage anyone who is eligible and feels able to take part to take a few minutes to help future victims of crime get the best possible support.” 

The survey runs until the end of September 2023 and you can take part at https://forms.office.com/e/ce5Usd8WMS. If you have any questions about the survey, email info@eaprc.co.uk. 

For anyone who has been affected by crime but hasn’t reported to police, you can access specialist services via 24-hour webchat, as well as information, guidance and resources, at victimcare-dc.org. You can also call Victim Support’s 24-hour Supportline on 08 08 16 89 111. 

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Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase

Services that support victims of crime, reduce reoffending, and deliver restorative justice met with members of Devon and Cornwall Police and others at Middlemoor HQ
Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase

Chief Constable Will Kerr at the Commissioner’s Showcase at Middlemoor HQ

Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase
Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase
Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase
Great work celebrated at Commissioner’s Showcase

A wide range of services which support victims, prevent reoffending and deliver restorative justice gathered at Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters on Tuesday (May 23) to showcase their incredible work. 

The event, hosted by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hernandez, saw services she funds across the peninsula meet with police officers and staff, stakeholders and councillors to raise awareness of the help available to people living in our communities. 

New Chief Constable Will Kerr spoke at the showcase, saying how the range of services in attendance reflected how much policing has changed. 

He said: “The majority of calls that we get coming in to us at the moment are not crime-based. They don’t end up being crimed, and they relate to a range of other services. They include people in distress, people who are vulnerable, people who just want to talk.  

“Of course we recruit police officers who have those basic skills of compassion but we can’t do this alone, we don’t have the skills and we don’t have the capacity. So being able to access the range of deeply impressive services that are represented in this room is immensely beneficial for police. And it means we have better services that we can collectively offer to the public.” 

John Miller spoke about Victim Support’s commissioning role as strategic delivery partner for the Police and Crime Commissioner, followed by his colleague Soo Brizell who spoke about key achievements including the introduction of a multi-crime service using independent advocates, a specific ASB support service, the shaping of care for people in the police force who have experienced domestic abuse, and the recent commissioning of a three-year road collision support service. 

The showcase offered the chance for providers to network with members of the police force with the aim of helping them to understand how people they deal with can access support. 

Speaking at the event, Chief Superintendent for Local Policing Matt Longman said: “The biggest thing I’ve taken from today is having that one-to-one and really understanding what these services do, but also the stories that I can take back to my officers who can start to really buy into and understand what’s at the receiving end of these processes, so when you’re making referrals it’s not just ticking a box, there are real stories behind it. And what has particularly touched me today is young people telling us what a difference commissioned services can make.” 

The showcase was welcomed by services including award-winning women’s and children’s charity Trevi. 

Hannah Shead of Trevi said: “It’s been a great day; it’s been really lovely to meet so many services that we work with – maybe we make referrals to or get referrals from – but actually just to spend time talking has been great.” 

Speaking after the event, Chief Constable Kerr said how beneficial the day had been for both services and Devon and Cornwall Police. 

He said: “It’s been a fantastic event with a significant number of the more than 50 commissioned services that provide fantastic support for victims of crime in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

“You can just see the range and the passion of people in the room to do right and to do good by victims in the South West. 

“Events like this allow people to make connections both across the force and at a local level that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.” 

In 2023-24, Commissioner Hernandez will spend more than £9m funding more than 50 support services. She hailed the event as a great success and said how thankful she was that so many of the services she funds were able to attend. 

She said: “Thank you so much to everyone who took the time out of their extremely busy week to help share the message or learn about what help is available to people affected by crime, to reduce reoffending, and to deliver restorative justice. 

“The turnout has made me especially proud of the breadth of support I am able to fund across the peninsula, from services supporting people of all ages who have experienced sexual violence and domestic abuse, to those targeted by hate crime or antisocial behaviour, and those in the grip of addiction, among so many others. 

“Thank you also to our strategic delivery partner Victim Support which does such amazing work putting in place the care and support which improves the lives of people living in our force area every single day.” 

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez

Victims urged to help improve police response to sex offences

The Op Soteria Bluestone survey will help to shape the response of forces including Devon and Cornwall Police to sexual offences
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is calling for survivors of sexual violence to share their experiences anonymously

Survivors of sexual violence are being invited to share their experience to help police improve the way they deal with victims. 

A survey, conducted by academics at City, University of London, was launched this month with the aim of giving Devon & Cornwall Police, alongside other forces, a valuable insight into how the police process feels to victims of rape and other sexual offences. 

All responses to the survey, which takes around 15 minutes to complete, are completely anonymous. It is open to anyone over the age of 18 whose case the police know about, whether current or historic. 

The results will be used to inform Operation Soteria Bluestone, which is looking into how a number of forces deal with incidents of sexual violence and aims to transform the way police respond to, and investigate, rape and sexual offences. 

The questionnaire has been developed over 12 months with input from Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, police officers, survivors, academic experts and the support sector. 

It has also been reviewed by survivor focus groups, piloted with survivors by South Wales Police, and undergone cognitive testing with survivors supported by the Safe Link ISVA service in Avon & Somerset. 

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, funds a number of support services for victims of sexual violence, as well as Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors. 

She appealed to victim-survivors to share their experiences of dealing with the police, adding: “It’s absolutely vital that police officers get it right when dealing with anyone affected by rape and other sexual offences, and this survey will be an invaluable tool in making sure every victim is believed, and treated with respect and dignity. 

“It’s also important that any engagement with victims is trauma-informed, so I’m pleased to see this survey has been created with the help of those who have been through similar experiences, alongside support services which are key to helping survivors recover.” 

The survey runs until the end of June and can be completed here.

If you have been a victim of sexual violence, whether or not you have reported a crime, you can get help by visiting the Victim Care website, or calling Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111. 

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