Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which provided an update on the decisions taken at the Commissioning Board in October 2021 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Governance and Finance, OPCC, Charles Oakley explained the main areas related to: bringing the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) and Community Peer Mentors in-house; the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and Counselling Services being subject to procurement exercises for a  three year contracts, with a potential to extend for a further two years; confirmation that a three year grant would be awarded to the supplier for the Tees Valley Inclusion Project for the HALO service.

Councillor D Boyes asked how people accessed those victim services, whether there was an outreach service, and how they would be linked in terms of improving the direction of travel given the PEEL Inspection Report grading of ‘adequate’ in respect of supporting victims.  The Head of Governance and Finance noted that in respect of the sexual violence service it was generally a referral following an initial crisis conversation at the sexual violence referral centre.  He added that this would be following a person being a victim of crime and the support offered would be as appropriate.  He also noted community outreach programmes in terms of education and added that a proportion of the funding was aimed at being preventative.  Councillor D Boyes asked as regards those harder to reach groups and asked as regards the numbers involved and what work was undertaken.  The Head of Governance and Finance noted the numbers were not huge and explained in relation to minority communities, such as the LGBTQ+ communities, some of the funding received from Government was provided to specialist organisations that could get into those communities to make people aware of services that were available.  He noted around 100 contacts had been made, however, he was not sure of the number of people supported.  The PCC explained that this related to bringing the Victims’ Service back in-house alongside the Victims’ Champions to help deliver the best victims’ service in class.  She explained that there was also the Community Peer Mentors who had dealt with around 499 victims of crime, 81 percent having identified as being the victim of crime at some stage, and 71 percent within the last month.  She noted 44 percent of those supported had also been victims of domestic violence.  She added there was an importance in terms of the type of language used, in supporting those that may not see themselves as a victim, to make sure all were aware of the support services that were available.  She noted that as the VCAS was unable to support victims of anti-social behaviour, the Community Peer Mentors offered the opportunity to provide support for those victims.  She concluded by reiterating that bringing the service in-house and having a Champion with links nationally to the Victims’ Commissioner, and across England and Wales with other PCC appointed Victims’ Champions, would give the ability to feed into the national level and to also bring in best practice for Durham.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.