Victim Contact Team

The team also contact victims of racially aggravated offences whatever the length of sentence handed down by the courts - and with families in cases that may have resulted in death by dangerous driving.

Members of the team explain the role of the Criminal Justice System, exchange information concerning an offender’s progress in prison, and represent the views of the victims.

The Victim Contact Team work closely with Probation's Offender Managers who supervise MAPPA registered offenders.

Victim Support

Victim Support Leicestershire and Rutland helps local people cope with the effects of crime by providing support and information to victims in confidence and to witnesses attending local courts.

The charity’s services are free, independent of the police and courts, and available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened.

Trained volunteers offer:

• someone to talk to in confidence
• information on police and court procedures
• liaison with other organisations on the victim's behalf 
• information about compensation and insurance matters 
• contact with other sources of help

Contact number 0116 258 0678 or visit their website.

Code of Practice

The Government aims to ensure that every victim, including relatives of people who have died as a result of a crime, has access to information on support services in their local area.

If victims feel that any of the service providers have not met their obligations under the Victims’ Code of Practice, and are dissatisfied with the response to their complaint, they can take their case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman via their MP.

Area Director for Victim Support, Mick Studley said: “For many years Victim Support Leicestershire and Rutland, whilst being an independent registered charity, has worked closely with all the criminal justice agencies in providing victims of crime with improved services.”

A Quick Guide to Victims’ Rights under the Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice for victims of crime places obligations on criminal justice agencies to provide a standard minimum service for victims, wherever they live in England and Wales. Vulnerable or intimated victims will receive an enhanced service through the Witness Care Units.

The types of information victims will receive include:

• monthly updates from the Police about progress on their cases
• an update when someone is arrested in connection with their case
• information about bail conditions
• an update when someone is charged in connection with their case
• information about court dates
• information about the sentence received by the offender
• an explanation of what the sentence means
• information about appeals and their outcomes.

Victims will also be entitled to receive information about local support services and to be referred to Victim Support.

If victims feel that they have not received the level of service set out in the code, they will be able to take their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, who may recommend an apology, changes to procedures to ensure the same failures are not repeated, or a payment to the victim.