Get support as a victim of crime

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

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

Victims’ Information Service

Use the Victims’ Information Service to find support in your local area, eg:

• emotional support
• counselling
• finding somewhere safe to stay
• finding someone to speak for you and get the help you need

Join the Victim Contact Scheme

You can join the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) if you’re the victim of a violent or sexual crime and the offender is sentenced to 12 months or more.

Joining the VCS means you’ll be:

• told about the offender’s prison sentence and release
• assigned a Victim Liaison Officer
• told when an offender is up for parole and how to make a statement at the parole hearing

You’ll be given the option of joining the scheme when you report the crime.

Read the code of practice for victims of crime to find out what you’re entitled to.

Take part in a restorative justice scheme

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

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

This kind of meeting is sometimes called ‘restorative justice’.

If you’re contacted by a prisoner

Contact the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Victim 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.

NOMS Victim Helpline victim.helpline@noms.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 6699
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges