A new service providing support to victims in Merseyside has been launched.
The Victim Care Hub will provide free, confidential support across the region, regardless of when it happened or if it has been reported to police.
It is designed to make it easier for victims and allow them to get support if they don’t wish to speak to the police.
As part of her integral Merseyside Victim Care Plan, Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Ensuring every victim gets the right support, at the right time, in the right way is an absolute priority for me and the creation of the new Victim Care Merseyside hub is a major milestone in that work.
“The creation of this hub is entirely focused on improving the care and support we provide to victim of crimes on Merseyside – providing a dedicated team of real people on hand to make a real difference.”
The service will be delivered by a local team of 15 specialists, offering emotional and practical support for individuals.
The hub help victims of child exploitation, hate crime, harmful practices, murder or manslaughter, rape and sexual assault and restorative justice.
While the Victim Care Hub has only recently been officially launched, the team first started on October 3 and have already supported thousands of people.
In the first six weeks, 6,570 victims received information about support. Out of these, 1,100 were proactively contacted so an assessment of their needs could be made, with many of them having a dedicated plan in place.
One charity working with the care hub is Savera UK. They aim to eliminate ‘honour’-based abuse and provide life-saving services to those at risk.
Savera UK said: “We are proud to be one of the specialist services on hand through the Merseyside PCC’s Victim Care Merseyside Hub to support those affected by ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.”
Victim Care Merseyside hub manager Nicky Griffiths said: ““We know that in the wake of a crime, many people feel lost, vulnerable, sometimes scared. They don’t always know how to pick up the pieces. They need a simple, straightforward way of accessing support.”
If you’ve been affected by crime, Victim Care Merseyside is there to provide support.
Call Freephone 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm or request support online at www.victimcaremerseyside.org at any time.
Featured image @MerseysidePCC Twitter
