Victim Support Pathway for ASB

Background,

A New Pathway,

Who can make Referrals,

How can Referrals be made?

Types of Support given by Victims Support,

Points of Contact.

Background

The impact of persistent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and harassment can have a serious impact on the heath and well-being of individuals affected. Those targeted are often made to feel like prisoners in their own homes; fearful of venturing out and engaging in the type of social contact the majority of society take for granted.  

Where a person is targeted for an actual or perceived vulnerability, such as age, race, colour, disability or poor mental health the impact can be even more damaging – creating a cycle of social exclusion and heightened vulnerability that can have major consequences.

Where a crime has been committed and reported there are well established processes to support victims – Victim Support is a national charity giving free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family, friends and anyone else affected.  Victim Support takes automatic referrals from the police for a range of crimes with trained and inducted volunteers who undertake 1-2-1 support and guidance with victims.

However, there is more that can be done to support vulnerable people experiencing damaging ‘non-crime’ issues such as persistent ASB or harrassment.

A new pathway

Safer Communities Torbay has agreed a new pathway with Victim Support to provide the same 1-2-1 support for non-crime victims, such as those subjected to ASB, harassment and bullying, as they would for routine crime victims.  

Who is the service designed for?

• Vulnerable people – specifically people targeted through actual or perceived vulnerability, such as age, disability, poor mental health or learning disability.  
• Victims of repeat ASB and harassment
• Single instance victims of ASB and harassment perceived by the reporting officer as being particularly affected and in need of support and guidance from Victim Support.

Who can make the referrals?

Any agency having contact with the victim or aggrieved party.  

For example Police (including Police Community Support Officers), Street Wardens, Housing Officers, Environmental Health Officers, fire services, Health Visitors, District Nurses, Occupational Health and Physiotherapists amongst others.  The pathway is appropriate for all agencies providing community, over the threshold and support services.

How can referrals be made?

Report direct via telephone:

• Reporting officer calls Victim Support at Bristol on 0845 4566099 in company with the client – referrals can only be made in the presence of the victim (please note that this condition only applies to non-police reporting)
• Reporting Officer outlines nature and detail of ASB, harassment or abuse and gives their contact details (name, agency, telephone and email)
• Passes phone over to client who will verify that they wish to engage with Victim Support
• Details logged, Victim Support CRM Case ID number passed onto the reporting officer and case passed over to local Victim Support Co-ordinator (Newton Abbot) who will allocate a volunteer to undertake 1-2-1 engagement, support and guidance
• Reporting officer leaves a reference/calling card with the client containing Victim Support public number, CRM Case ID number and reporting officers details

What happens next?

• Victim Support produces risk assessments and timescales for engagement will commence (48 hoursfor referral and further 48 hours for volunteer assignment).
• Average contact time is 3-4 weeks – secondary referrals can be made if necessary.
• The Victim Support Manager will agree actions with the client and signpost into appropriate services on a needs basis once assessment has taken place.     
• The Victim Support Manager will inform the reporting officer when support commences and in what format.

Third party referrals by non-police partners in the absence of the aggrieved are not permitted – the outlined pathway must be adhered to.

Types of support given by Victim Support

There are various types of support given to clients of Victim Support – the following list is not exhaustive and new and innovative ways to support victims are always being looked into and offered based upon individual needs.

• A caseworker for ongoing emotional and practical support
• Personal alarms
• Advocacy – between agencies which may be of benefit to the client
• Information provision – leaflets and links to other agencies which may be of interest
• Specialist referral
• Security provisions

Points of contact

Safer Communities Torbay: Mark Richards, Project Manager Community Safety and Public Health – 01803 841288

Victim Support: Loraine Engstrom, Service Delivery Manager for South Devon - 01626 359824

Street Begging

When street begging was raised as an issue in Torbay, Safer Communities Torbay launched a project to tackle it.

Street begging is a criminal offence and occurs in the town centres across Torbay. Persisent street beggars should not be confused with Big Issue sellers who recieve high visibility jackets to enable easy identification.

Street begging can cause a number of issues such as intimidation, drunkenness and public drug dealing. The activity can centre around particular locations and retailers, and can be damaging and distressing to residents and visitors.

Those who commit street begging often need help and support to change their behaviour. As part of our project we helped street beggars into local support services. Where they continued to be involved in street begging we took action in accordance with our Anti-Social Behaviour process.

Our message on street begging is clear – it is not acceptable in Torbay. Anyone who is approached by a street beggar or sees street begging should report it to Devon and Cornwall Police on telephone 101 (non emergency  number).