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Help for the Victims of Crime

Witness Care Units

Witness care units are the single point of contact for victims and witnesses from charging a suspect with a crime to the end of the case. Your named witness care officer will be responsible for keeping you informed of the progress of the case and supporting you.

Find out more about Witness Care Units

Victim Support

Victim Support volunteers are specially trained to help you and give you with practical advice. The police are required to refer all cases of burglary, theft, criminal damage, arson, assault, and racial harassment to Victim Support. If you don't want this to happen, tell the police officer dealing with your case.

Phone the Victim Support line: 0845 30 30 900

Visit the Victim Support Website

National Victims' Association

National Victims' Association provides advocacy, counselling and support services to the families of homicide victims.

Phone the National Victims' Association: 0191 423 210

Visit the National Victims' Association Website

Home » Victims and Witnesses » Going to Court » After the trial

After the Trial

After the trial the Crown Prosecution Service will explain the sentence to you and answer any questions you may have.

Appeals

People convicted by a Magistrates' Court can appeal to the Crown Court against their conviction and the sentence. People convicted by the Crown Court can appeal to the Court of Appeal. If these appeals are rejected they can go on to apply for permission to appeal to the House of Lords.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is independent of both government and the courts and reviews alleged miscarriages of justice that have been through the appeal process. It can refer a case back to the Court of Appeal if there is a possibility that either a conviction or a sentence would not be upheld. Referral of a case to the Commission depends on some new argument or evidence being discovered that was not raised at the trial or appeal.

During the sentence

If you are the victim of a violent or sexual crime and the offender in your case was sentenced to 12 months or more in prison, then the National Offender Management Service (Probation) are required by law to contact you.

They will give you general information at key stages in the offender's sentence, such as when:

  • the offender is transferred to a different category of prison
  • the offender applies for release from prison

They will be unable to give you detailed information about offenders, for example which prison the offender is in, the exact date of release or exact location of release.

The Probation Service 'Victim Contact Scheme' leaflet tells you what will happen to an offender after he or she has been sentenced.

The leaflet explains:

  • the role of the National Probation Service
  • how long the prisoner will spend in prison
  • when the victim liaison officer will contact you
  • your choices to give and receive information
  • what happens if you give information
  • the Prison Service's Victims' Helpline
  • what Victim Support can offer
  • what to do if you have concerns about the release of an offender

The Parole Board is required to take into consideration the risk to you when considering whether it is safe to release an offender on parole. You are able to make a Victim's Personal Statement that will be considered by the Parole Board when making its decision.