The Avon & Somerset Victims’ Unit provides a service for victims and their families involved in serious crime.
Section 69 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 places a statutory duty upon local Probation Boards to consult and notify victims about the release arrangements of offenders serving a sentence of 12 months or more for a serious, violent of sexual offence. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 extended this duty to include the contact to victims of mentally disordered offenders where the offender is sentenced to a hospital order with restrictions for a serious, violent or sexual offence.
In order to deliver this in the Avon & Somerset Probation area, there is a dedicated unit of staff to carry out this work with a manager, four Victim Liaison Officers, a special administrative officer, and two administrative assistants. We meet with victims and liaise with other staff in the Probation Service in order to provide victims with information about what happens after a prisoner is sentenced, and to give victims the opportunity to express their views. Our overriding concern is the protection and safety of victims.
Victims Liaison Officers are invited to Multi Agency Risk Conferences as part of the MAPPPA arrangements. The role of the Victim Liaison Unit has been developing in terms of our involvement with Multi Agency Risk Management due to the MAPPPA arrangements, and attendance at the conferences is a way of ensuring direct representation of the victims’ views.
Who does the probation service contact?
Staff have a responsibility to contact victims or victims’ families where the offender received a prison sentence of 12 months or more for a violent or sexual offence. This includes cases where a life sentence has been passed and also includes victims or victim’s families where the offender has been sentenced under the Mental Health Act to a hospital order with restrictions.
How does it work?
Staff obtain feedback from the victim about any concerns they have about their perpetrator’s proposed release from prison or hospital. A written report, containing the victims’ views, is submitted to the Parole Board and Mental Health Unit of the Home Office by probation staff when the board/MHRT is considering an offender for release.
Where necessary, conditions can be applied to the offender’s release which prevent them from contacting the victim and/or entering a specified area around the victim’s home, for example.
Victim Liaison Officers who work with victims do NOT have any involvement with the offender.
Who is a victim?
Direct victims of crime or parents, carers, partners (heterosexual, lesbian and gay), children, dependants and others with a close personal relationship to the victim(s).
Victims can also use a nominated representative to communicate with the Victim Liaison Team on their behalf.
For further information about the Avon & Somerset Probation’s work with victims please ring the Victims Liaison Unit on 0117 9302520.
Or write to:-
The Victims Liaison Unit, Central Probation Office, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS1 3NU.
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