Get support as a victim of crime

Get free support and advice if you’ve been a victim of crime.

There’s different support if you’ve been a victim of crime in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Victim and Witness Information

Use the Victim and Witness Information website to find support in your local area, including:

• emotional support
• counselling
• finding somewhere safe to stay
• finding someone to speak for you and get the help you need
• specialist support for crimes, including domestic abuse and sexual violence

Victim Contact Scheme

You’ll be asked if you want to join the Victim Contact Scheme if both of the following are true:

• you’re the victim of a violent or sexual crime
• the offender is sentenced to 12 months or more

If you join, you’ll be given a Victim Liaison Officer who’ll tell you:

• how long the offender will be in prison for, if there are any changes to their sentence, and when they’ll be released
• when an offender is up for parole and how to make a victim statement at the parole hearing
• how to apply for a ‘licence condition’ - these stop the offender doing certain things when they’re released, such as contacting you
• how to challenge a parole decision if the Parole Board decides the offender is safe to release

Tell your Victim Liaison Officer whenever you change your contact details, so they can keep you updated.

If you decide not to join or you were not asked, you can still join if you change your mind later by sending an email to the Victim Contact Scheme.

Victim Contact Scheme
vcsenquiries@justice.gov.uk

You can contact the Ministry of Justice if you have a question that is not about the Victim Contact Scheme.

Read about your rights after a crime to find out what you’re entitled to.

Use the restorative justice scheme

Contact your local victim support organisation, police force, or probation officer if you’d like to:

• meet the offender
• talk about how your life has been affected
• get answers to your questions and an apology

Find out more about restorative justice.

If you’re contacted by a prisoner

Contact the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Victims Helpline if you get unwanted letters, phone calls, texts or messages from a prisoner.

You can also contact the helpline if you’re worried about someone being released from prison.

HM Prison and Probation Service Victims Helpline
victim.helpline@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 6699
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges