Strategic Review of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Victim and Witness Hub 

Task  

Victims and witnesses of crime have a right to support under the Victims’ Code of Practice (2020) and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) hold responsibility for locally commissioning victim support services.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were the first area to decommission the national charity Victim Support and set up its own police-led Victims’ Hub. This evolved several years later when the Witness Care Unit was merged with it to become a single service providing free, confidential, emotional, and practical support to victims and witnesses of crime. The service provided is victim-led and offers support from the time of the offence, through any police investigation or court proceedings and beyond.  

TONIC was asked by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to conduct an Independent Review of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Victim and Witness Hub, focussing on future strategy, best practice, and service improvement. TONIC was given a number of research questions to address throughout the review and the full report provides detailed analysis in relation to each question.  

TONIC’s Approach  

TONIC was asked by the OPCC to provide evidence-based answers to a number of specific research questions chosen to test the effectiveness of the Constabulary’s delivery against the service specification and grouped within the below themes. 

• Service Delivery  

• Staff Management  

• Information Management  

• Service Improvement  

Survey and Interviews – In consultation with the OPCC, an anonymous online survey was developed for Police staff and professionals either working for, or alongside, the Hub to complete. The survey was hosted by TONIC on SurveyMonkey and yielded both quantitative ratings about the Hub’s adherence to the Victims’ Code of Practice, and qualitative data about strengths and areas for improvement. Similarly, interview schedules for different professionals were also developed collaboratively with the OPCC and were designed to be semi-structured and feel like a ‘conversation with a purpose’.  

Fieldwork – Throughout the fieldwork period, TONIC engaged 42 internal and external stakeholders, with the majority of interviews being conducted virtually. In addition, the lead researcher spent two days onsite at the Hub in Peterborough, conducting an in-person visit, and interviewing professionals face-to-face. Throughout the duration of the project, TONIC remained in regular contact with the OPCC and attended weekly progress update meetings.  

Quantitative Data Analysis – The OPCC provided TONIC with the Hub’s end of year monitoring data reports for the previous three financial years, as well as the 2023/24 mid-year monitoring data return. This data was summarised and displayed under sub-sections, split by victims/witness referrals, victims supported, demographic data, outcomes, and information about onward referrals.   

SWOT Analysis – Is a technique used to determine and define strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a framework used for evaluation and to develop strategic planning. TONIC developed a SWOT analysis designed to facilitate a realistic, fact-based, data-driven look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current Victim and Witness Hub model in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

Outcomes 

Presentation – The findings and recommended areas for service improvement were presented to a panel selected by the OPCC. 

Executive Summary – It was a request from the OPCC that the executive summary remained short and concise. As a result, TONIC designed infographics to display both the SWOT analysis and service improvement recommendations to ensure all relevant information could be easily found and understood. 

Report – TONIC produced a detailed report of the review findings, highlighting best practice, areas for improvement, and recommendations. Whilst maintaining a high-level strategic focus, the report also considered the inner workings of the hub, service evaluation, collaboration with partners and raising public awareness.