SPECIAL investment is being made in a new team to provide tailored support to victims of crime, despite huge budget cuts faced by Wiltshire Police.

Yesterday, police announced Horizon Victim and Witness Care, which will act as a one-stop-shop for victims and witnesses stumbling through the criminal justice system.

On April 1, the team will also be supported with new initiatives including the Right to Review, giving any victim of crime the right to demand a review of their case if police decide not to progress a case against a suspect.

Claire Wiggins, chief executive of the Victim’s Commissioner’s office, spoke on behalf of Baroness Newlove, who had been due to attend but came down with flu.

“My knowledge about what it feels like to be a victim does not come from books or briefings,” she said.

“I am not a politician or policy maker, but a victim of crime.

“My late husband was killed by a gang of drunken youths outside our house, and he suffered 14 blows to the head and 40 internal injuries, all of this done on our doorstep.

“I was shocked by the way my three daughters were treated by the criminal justice system. There are many factors which are distressing for a victim or witness going through the courts.

"Coming face to face with the offender while waiting outside the court or with their families in the waiting area, toilets or lifts. Not being given sufficient time to prepare a victim personal statement, of given clear guidance on how it will be used.

“Organisations do not work together enough or give victims the right support. I understand the need for justice to be delivered on facts, not feelings, but the victims are often emotionally vulnerable.

“It feels like the victim is incidental to the process and only there to get a conviction.”

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “For some 20 years I was a magistrate in Swindon and must have dispensed justice in many hundreds of cases.

“It was the accused who was centre stage while the victim only had a brief walk-on-part. I do not recall anyone telling me we should consider what effect the crime had on the individual.

"One of the most important things I wanted to achieve as PCC was to put the victim at the centre of crime rather than waiting in the wings.”

“This is a significant investment at a time when the force needs to make significant savings, which demonstrates our commitment to victims.”

Retiring Chief Constable Pat Geenty said: “This new service is not about processes and systems, it is about people, and the way this has been designed will make Wiltshire one of the leading forces in victim support.”

Sgt Simon Cowdrey, of the Horizon Project Team, said: “The local bobby will identify the most vulnerable victims of crime across our communities and they will be identified with an assessment conducted at the first point of contact.

"Someone will be assigned to their case within 24 hours and will become their single point of contact to support the victim throughout the investigation.

"Horizon will have a supervisor and 13 victim and witness care officers. They will be made aware of any significant developments in their case within 24 hours, and every victim will be given information about what they should expect from the criminal justice system.”

For more information visit www.wiltshire.police.uk/horizon