Victims of Crime
Nationally around one in four people (24%) experienced a crime against themselves or their household in 2006/07 according to the British Crime Survey (BCS). This is higher than the previous year (23%) but significantly lower than the peak of 40% recorded by the BCS in 1995.
The total number of crimes recorded by the police in London in 2006/07 decreased by six per cent when compared with 2005/06. However the risk of being a victim of both household and personal crime in the London region remains higher than the national average and has remained constant since 2005/06.
Some demographic groups and communities suffer disproportionately from crime and are more likely to become victims. (e.g. Young men aged 16-24, full-time students and unemployed people) and victims of certain crimes are also more likely to experience repeat victimisation (e.g. 32% of vandalism victims, 28% of victims of assault with no injury) although this affects a minority of people.
Despite official figures showing falling crime rates the fear of crime remains high - around two in three people believe that crime nationally has increased over the last two years, although that figure drops to two in five when considering crime in one's own local area.
Below we have linked to resources providing further information and organisations working specifically with or on the behalf of victims of crime.
External Links
- Victim Support London
Victim Support offers free and confidential information, practical help and emotional support for victims of any crime, whether or not it has been reported and regardless of when it happened.
www.vslondon.org - The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime - Home Office
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/victims-code-of-practice
Sets out the services victims can expect to receive from the criminal justice system - Escaping Victimhood (EV)
EV is a charity helping people whose lives have been disrupted by the trauma of serious crime
Download a leaflet - SAMM - Support after murder and manslaughter
www.samm.org.uk/
Offers emotional support to those bereaved through murder and manslaughter. A registered charity established 1990. - SAMM Abroad - Support after murder and manslaughter abroad
SAMM Abroad exists specially to support people in the UK whose loved ones are the victims of murder or manslaughter abroad. SAMM Aboard is also an action group, working for change in the support received in the UK after a murder abroad.
www.sammabroad.org - The Suzy Lamplugh Trust
A charity that works to raise awareness of the importance of personal safety and to provide solutions that effect change in order to help people to avoid violence and aggression and live safer, more confident lives.
www.suzylamplugh.org - Assist Trauma Care
Employ experienced therapists trained to work with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the after-effects of trauma.
www.assisttraumacare.org.uk - Brake – the road safety charity
BrakeCare is Brake's support division, providing support to people affected by road death and injury.
www.brake.org.uk - Mamaa
Provides support to victims of violent crime and their families.
www.mamaa.org - Terry Booker Foundation
A self support group based in Greenwich which helps bereaved parents get through the grief of losing a child. Supports those affected by: murder, fatal accident, suicide, miscarriage and still birth. Holds monthly meetings for parents and runs a 24 hour help line.
www.terrybookerfoundation.org - Why Me?
An organisation which has been set up by, and for, victims of crime who have benefited from their experience of Restorative Justice.
www.why-me.org
Downloads
- The British Crime Survey
The findings for 2006/07. The BCS records peoples experience to map the latest patterns and trends in the main high volume crimes
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/
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Email csas@lat.org.uk
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