Agenda item
VICTIM SERVICES COMMISSIONING UPDATE
- Meeting of Surrey Police and Crime Panel, Friday, 12 December 2014 10.30 am (Item 9/14)
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To provide a verbal update on the commissioning of services for victims in Surrey.
Minutes:
· The APCC provided a broad overview of the background to the change in the commissioning of victims’ services and highlighted the approach taken by the OPCC to develop services for victims that work for the County. The Panel were advised that generalist victims’ services have been commissioned in concert with other police forces in the region to provide economies of scale and which had allowed for the allocation of greater funding to put towards commissioning specialist victims’ services. It was highlighted that Central Government had caused some problems due to the fact that they had held onto the commissioning of services for witnesses as well as funding the creation of a centre for victims of sexual offences in Surrey and Sussex at Croydon, which has undercut some of the work already done by the OPCC.
· Members asked how this would impact the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Guildford. The APCC indicated that the centre in Croydon would not be adequate to cover all of Surrey and Sussex and that it would work in tandem with other services available in the County.
· The Policy Officer (Victims) (PO) highlighted that Surrey has emerged as one of the leaders in the commissioning of victims’ services through informed discussions with partners and a focus on outcomes. The OPCC has successfully provided grants for the provision of victims’ services across a broad range of areas. The Panel were advised that the OPCC had focused on using services that already existed in Surrey while also ensuring that the application process was not overly-bureaucratic so as not to discourage applications for funding. The PO further highlighted that Surrey OPCC had been called on to give evidence to an all-party parliamentary group enquiry on methods for commissioning victims’ services and were now passing on advice and best practice to OPCCs across the country.
· The PO also indicated that the OPCC would ensure that services are being provided effectively and would work to identify emerging areas where victims’ services will be required in the future. Providing support for victims of child sexual exploitation was flagged as an area that is currently being researched which will then be pulled together into a needs assessment. Discussions were also taking place to bring together services for victims of sexual violence in Surrey.
· The Panel asked how it was decided to prioritise victims and ensure that support is given to those most in need first. The PO advised that there is a lot of literature available on informing how to prioritise the provision of services to victims which exists in conjunction with the Victims’ Code. It was further highlighted that, in conjunction with a number of other forces, a needs assessment had been commissioned from the University of Portsmouth which would also provide insights into which victims are most in need of support services.
· Panel members also asked what protocols were in place to measure successful outcomes in supporting victims of crime. The PO highlighted that since many of the funding had been granted to existing organisations, methods were already in place to measure outcomes. It was further indicated that the OPCC is working with the Council to look at the measures support services already have in place to ensure that the right outcomes are being achieved for victims of crime.
· The Panel asked for more information on the number of people from outside Surrey who were using Surrey’s victims’ support services network and whether this was having an impact on people from Surrey getting access to these services. The APCC stated that support was only being given to individuals from outside Surrey that are in refuges within the county and that this was an arrangement that also benefitted victims in Surrey who had to be moved to another county. The APCC indicated that she would send details on how many people from outside Surrey were using victim support services and how many Surrey residents were receiving these services in another county.
· Members drew attention to an HMIC report which highlighted failings in the way that Surrey Police deal with victims of domestic violence. The APCC highlighted that efforts were being undertaken to improve the performance of Surrey Police in this area and that police officers were being given training to help them deal more effectively with victims of domestic violence while a multi-agency hub was being developed to join up services for victims of domestic violence. The PCC further highlighted that the officers were also being given training on recognising and tackling honour-based violence.
· The Panel requested information on steps that the PCC and Surrey Police have been taking to tackle the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the county. The APCC stated that funding had been given to tackle this and that instances of FGM were recognised and dealt with correctly but indicated that it doesn’t appear to be as much of an issue in Surrey in contrast to other counties.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
None
RESOLVED:
None
ACTIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:
1. The OPCC to circulate information to the Panel on the number of Surrey residents that receive victim support services outside of Surrey.
PANEL NEXT STEPS:
None