Task  

There has been a recent shift in the culture of the criminal justice system which recognises the importance of better engaging with, and supporting, the needs of victims. The effects of becoming a victim of crime are well researched and documented. There is evidence to suggest physical and emotional injury and long-term psychological effects are among the many consequences of experiencing a crime; all of which can have an impact on a victims’ life and, as such, crime is consequently extremely costly to society. 

It is the responsibility of the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to commission local victim support services, that should be ‘dedicated emotional and practical support for victims of crime to help them cope, and as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime’. The allocation of funding is based on a population-based formula and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are accountable for ensuring that commissioned services are available to meet local needs, meaning that models vary by area. 

Since April 2015, the Avon and Somerset OPCC have funded a set of commissioned services to offer enhanced help and support to local victims of crime and antisocial behaviour. At the time of this project, the OPCC were in the process of recommissioning victim support services in Avon and Somerset, with contracts due to commence in April 2025. As part of this process, the OPCC asked TONIC to conduct a Victim Needs Assessment and Victims’ Voice project. 

The Victim Needs Assessment was designed to broadly examine professionals’ opinions on the needs of victims and survivors of crime and assess whether existing provision meets those needs. The aim was to identify new requirements and anticipate areas of emerging need in relation to the evolving environment. The intent and ultimate goal of this work was to ensure that services are appropriately responsive and equitably meeting the needs of victims throughout Avon and Somerset, wherever they are located, and across all victim groups, populations, and communities.  

The services in scope for both the project and recommissioning by the OPCC were: 

• Emotional Support Service for Victims of Crime and Antisocial Behaviour  

• Adult Advocacy Service  

• Children and Young People Support Service 

• Restorative Justice Service  

• Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Service  

• Modern Slavery Support Service  

TONIC’s Approach  

As part of the recommissioning process, the OPCC asked TONIC to conduct a comprehensive Victim Needs Assessment. To achieve this, TONIC engaged and consulted 392 victims of crime and professionals from Avon and Somerset,  and considered findings from the following exercises:  

• A literature review of existing research to provide context for the current landscape of crime and victim support on a local and national level, as well as a summary of victims’ needs and best practice in support.  

• Quantitative data analysis of the demographic characteristics of the population in Avon and Somerset, police-recorded crime trends in Avon and Somerset, and current commissioned services’ activity and outcomes.  

• Surveys that reached 302 individuals, including 29 victims, 7 respondents on behalf of a victim, 189 key stakeholders, and 77 service providers. 

• Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 90 professionals conducted both virtually and face-to-faces.    

• In person site visits and ethnographic observations of local victim support services.  

Outcome  

TONIC evaluated the existing commissioned services in depth, providing service-specific feedback, highlighting their strengths and opportunities to expand provision and reach the growing demand. In addition, TONIC engaged with a number of wider support organisations seeking further feedback in relation to the current service offer and future OPCC commissioning model. 

TONIC produced a detailed report outlining overarching themes, considering what is currently working well, barriers to accessing and engaging with support services, gaps in the existing service provision, areas for improvement and predicted changes, as well as priorities for the future. Within these areas TONIC identified the need for services to become more collaborative, improve communication, encourage the collection and utilisation of data, and to incorporate the victims’ voice within future service design. 

In bringing together the findings, TONIC detailed a series of recommendations and service implementation considerations, grouped under 12 core themes, for the OPCC to reflect upon when drafting their commissioning intentions. 

Furthermore, TONIC will be completing the Victims’ Voice Project, the results of which will be reported to and considered by the OPCC in future commissioning intentions in relation to victim support services in Avon and Somerset.