Victim services at risk unless MoJ confirms funding, PCCs warn
Crime victim services funding confirmed by government
(about 11 hours later)
Services for crime victims in England and Wales could close or lose staff because the government has not confirmed their funding, police and crime commissioners have said.
Crime victim services in England and Wales will receive the same level of funding in the next financial year.
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners says it has had no confirmation about funding from April.
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners says it will receive £63m in 2016-17, the same as in 2015-16.
It has asked for a three-year grant to help plan for the long-term and give victims' groups more certainty.
It had asked the Ministry of Justice for a three-year grant to help plan for the long-term and give victims' groups more certainty.
The government said details would be sent to PCCs "imminently".
Earlier, the association warned services could close or lose staff because funding had not been confirmed.
But the BBC's home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, said it was understood those details would not include any guaranteed funding beyond the first year.
Justice Minister Mike Penning said he had written to all police and crime commissioners and victim support agencies to tell them their budget had been protected.
'Huge concern'
"The Ministry of Justice puts the highest emphasis on the needs of victims and these services are absolutely vital," he said.
The Ministry of Justice gave PCCs £63m for victims' support services for the 2015-16 financial year.
"We have introduced a raft of new measures to help victims and with this funding will continue to ensure victims have access to the support they need to cope, and where possible, recover."
But the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, a national body that represents all 41 commissioners in England and Wales, says it has had no confirmation about funding from April despite contacting government officials "almost every day".
The association represents all 41 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.
With many contracts coming to an end in March, PCCs are calling on the MoJ for urgent clarification of the grant available so they can commission services.
Those helped by support services include:
Those helped by support services include:
• female and male victims of sexual exploitation or those involved in survival sex work
• female and male victims of sexual exploitation
• minority groups and refugee women, children and young victims
• minority groups and refugee women, children and young victims
• victims of forced marriage, honour based violence, domestic slavery, trafficking and FGM
• victims of forced marriage, honour-based violence, domestic slavery, trafficking and female genital mutilation
• vulnerable children who are victims or who live with victims of crime and display harmful behaviours
• vulnerable children who are victims or who live with victims of crime and display harmful behaviours
• visually impaired adults who could be at risk of abuse and disability hate crime
• visually impaired adults who could be at risk of abuse and disability hate crime
Source: APCC
Source: APCC
Vera Baird, Northumbria PCC and chair of the APCC's supporting victims group, said PCCs were "still in the dark about how much money we will have to support victims of crime and vulnerable people".
She added: "The uncertainty created by this delay means that help and support for victims and vulnerable people may not be available in some areas putting people at greater risk."
Sue Pearce, chief executive of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, a charity supporting victims of rape and sexual assault, said: "The delay in hearing about this funding is a huge cause for concern, forcing us into a position of great uncertainty where we are unable to plan ahead and ensure sure that we're able to continue all our work in supporting the people who depend on us."
An MoJ spokesman said: "Providing funding for victims services is a key priority for the Ministry of Justice.
"Specific funding allocations will be communicated to PCCs imminently."
