Victim Liaison

Work with victims

The Thames Valley Victim Liaison Unit provides a service for victims and their families involved in serious crime.

It was established in 2001 in response to the Victim's Charter, to give victims information about the offender's progress through the prison system.

Officers attend Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) meetings when appropriate. The officer is able to pass on vital information about the feelings and views of the victim, risk issues and case details.

In the majority of cases, the information that victims can give cannot be provided by other agencies and so the unit has an extremely important role.

As well as being important for specific victims, MAPPA is also used by the Victim Liaison Unit to address general public protection issues.

Details passed on by victims can be used to understand how an offender 'operates' and hopefully prevent further offences from being committed.

Who does the probation service contact?

Staff have a responsibility to contact victims or victims' families where the offender received a prison sentence of 12 months or more for a violent or sexual offence. This includes cases where a life sentence has been passed.

How does it work?

Staff obtain feedback from the victim about any concerns they have about their perpetrator's proposed release. A written report, containing the victim's views, is submitted to the Parole Board by probation staff when the board is considering an offender for release.

Probation staff who work with victims do NOT have any involvement with the offender.

The Victim's Charter published by the Home Office explains the rights of people who are victims of crime. The Victim's Charter is available on the Home Office website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/victims-charter

Who is a victim?

Direct victims of crime

Others including parents, carers, partners (heterosexual, lesbian and gay), children, dependents and others with a close personal relationship to the victim(s)