Where next for victim services in England and Wales?
Abstract
Purpose
At a time when funding arrangements are under review, the purpose of this paper is to come to a better understanding of victim needs and to inform future developments of services in England and Wales.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on qualitative data gathered from a series of interviews with 33 individuals working with victims of crime in one police area in England and Wales.
Findings
Better practice and outcomes were associated in respondent’s accounts with the multi-agency working and end to end case management of needs associated with some victims of rape and domestic abuse assessed as high risk of harm.
Research limitations/implications
Small-scale qualitative study.
Practical implications
It is argued Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) should explore mechanisms for extending such services to more victims of crime and ensuring better co-ordination of service delivery.
Originality/value
From October 2014 onwards PCCs are set to take over responsibility for funding victim services in England and Wales. Though not an uncontroversial development, this sets the context for practice with victims to be considered afresh and accordingly this paper explores the needs of victims and how they are met in one police and crime area.
Keywords
Citation
Madoc-Jones, I., Hughes, C. and Humphries, K. (2015), "Where next for victim services in England and Wales?", The Journal of Adult Protection, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 245-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2014-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited