Guidance
Get support as a victim of crime
Get free support and advice if you’ve been a victim of crime.
Documents
Details
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
Published 21 February 2022