West Yorkshire Prosecutors Focus on Victim Support

25/01/2008

West Yorkshire prosecutors are attending Victim Support volunteer meetings in a bid to further improve the services and the support available for victims of crime in the region.

CPS West Yorkshire's Chief Crown Prosecutor Neil Franklin, and two of the Area's Senior Managers Stephen Downing and Jane Cryer, are attending volunteer meetings in Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees over a 4 month period.

The guest speakers aim to help volunteers who work closely with victims throughout the county to understand better the role of the CPS and its policies towards witnesses. Providing this in-depth knowledge to volunteers will enhance the service Victim Support can offer victims who choose to use its services.

Feedback from Victim Support has been very positive:

"Jane gave a thorough and comprehensive presentation about the work of the CPS, the structure of the organisation and their place in the CJS and the Court. Jane discussed their work with victims and witnesses, and the use of Special Measures and managing people's expectations in court.

"All our volunteers had the opportunity to ask questions. Both staff and volunteers found the presentation very informative and interesting, they felt that the knowledge and information acquired from the presentation would be very useful in supporting victims of crime."

One particular topic being discussed by the prosecutors is the new 'Victim Focus' scheme, under which prosecutors will work closely with families who have lost loved ones, to provide them with support and to ensure that their views are heard in the courtroom.

The initiative will see prosecutors meeting families very early on (introduced by police Family Liaison officers), to deal with questions and concerns the family has; to outline the court process and progress in the case; and, to explain and assist with Victim Personal Statements.

Families who want to prepare a statement about the impact of the death will have help from the prosecutor, who will also read the statement out in court, if the family so wish it.

Neil Franklin, Chief Crown Prosecutor at CPS West Yorkshire said:

"The introduction of 'Victim Focus' will make a real difference to those who have lost family members in tragic circumstances. But by being visible, by explaining the court process, and by helping families with victim impact statements and reading them out in court, our prosecutors are providing a higher level of service which can only make the experience a less painful one for the families who are trying to cope with a tragic loss."

"Speaking at the Victim Support volunteer meetings in West Yorkshire about the Victim Focus scheme and other CPS initiatives will help volunteers understand how we work with victims and what support we can offer to them throughout the criminal process.

"It also provides the opportunity for us to take questions and speak directly with volunteers which will further increase our understanding of victims' and witnesses' needs and enables us to deliver a better service to our communities."

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Jane Cryer attended Victim Support Bradford & Calderdale volunteers meeting on the 20th November 2007. Stephen Downing will attend Leeds volunteers meeting on Saturday the 26th January 2008. Neil Franklin CCP will attend the meeting in Wakefield on the 6th February 2008. Jane Cryer will attend Kirklees volunteers meeting on the 12th February 2008.

2. Victim Focus' was originally piloted in 5 areas, under the umbrella of the Victims Advocates Pilot. These areas are the Old Bailey, Birmingham, Manchester Crown Square, Cardiff and Winchester.

3. In February 2007 the Victims' Advocates Pilot was extended for a further 12 months, enabling further families to benefit from the scheme.

4. In June 2007, the then Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith announced the national implementation of the CPS Victim Focus Scheme.

5. National implementation of the scheme will be confined to offences of homicide and road traffic fatalities where the charge before the court reflects an unlawful death. Careless driving is not therefore included with the formal scheme. The scheme will only apply to qualifying offences charged on or after 1 October 2007.

6. 'Victim Focus' will allow the prosecutor to read the Victim Impact Statement out in court prior to sentencing.

7. 'Family' includes partners (including same-sex partners).

8. The guidance sets out a minimum standard of service to families. Areas are not constrained from doing more if it is necessary to do so having regard to the particular circumstances of the case.

9. More information about the Victim Focus Scheme and the work of the CPS to improve its service to victims and witnesses can be found on the CPS national website.

10. For interviews requests please call Cheryl Ford on 0113 2902839