Your Commissioner - Your Voice

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31 October, 2022

Commissioner Zoë invests in the voice of Victims and Survivors as she launches NEW Victim Needs Assessment to help shape future of services 

Zoe Metcalfe
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe, has commissioned the research arm of the Independent Charity ‘Victim Support’, to look at the experience of victims and survivors of crime in North Yorkshire and York make recommendations on how services can further support them in future. 

Click to Start the survey

Key requirements Commissioner Zoë is looking for during the new assessment is a review of victim needs from 2014 to present, whilst also reviewing victim experience and satisfaction with current services. This will be delivered through interviews, focus groups and online surveys.  

A ‘Victims Voices’ survey invites victims and survivors of any type of crime to voice their experience following crime and the impact it had on them, what support they needed, their engagement with any local support services and whether there are any gaps in services for victims across the county. A second survey, aimed at professionals who deliver victim support services in North Yorkshire and York hopes to capture what works well and what needs to be improved in the service provision.  

Focus groups and interviews started on 17 October with victims and survivors who may or may not have reported crime to the police, but who have been supported by one of the eight commissioned services for victims in North Yorkshire and York.   

This is a unique opportunity for victims and survivors to contribute to the knowledge base which will help improve services and support for those affected by crime.  

Commissioner Zoë said: 

“As Commissioner and Victim’s Champion I’m here to listen to the voice of victims and survivors and understand what has worked well since 2014 and what needs to improve further as I strive to shape services in the best interests of those using them.   

Keeping people safe and feeling safe underpins everything I want to achieve, and if a crime does occur, I want to ensure we have the right people and the right support needed to offer comfort, advice and re-build confidence.

“A huge thank you to victims and survivors who will engage with the Victim Needs Assessment though either focus groups or the survey, to share with me their experience of crime which I know can have a huge impact on their everyday lives. Your voice will be heard.”

Participation in the 15-minute survey is completely anonymous and therefore no information will be collected that could be identifiable. There is also no obligation to respond to all the questions in the survey if some are found to be uncomfortable or triggering.   

The ‘Victims Voices’ survey can be found here: www.bit.ly/VictimVoices and will close on Thursday 15 December 2022.  

Victim Support said:  

“We are grateful to North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe for commissioning this important review, which we will be developing over seven months. It’s really important that the experiences and views of victims and survivors influence the support that’s available to them. This is a unique opportunity for people impacted by crime to have their say in improving victims’ services in North Yorkshire and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to take part” 

 More information on Victims Services in North Yorkshire and York can be found on the Commissioner’s website: www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/for-you/services/commissioned-services/