Victim Support England and Wales

Hallam House
56-60 Hallam Street
London
WIW 6JL

Tel (supportline): 0845 30 30 900
Tel (supportline type talk): 18001 0845 30 30 900
Tel (admin): 0207 268 0200
Web: www.victimsupport.org
Best time to phone supportline: Monday - Friday 9am - 9pm ; Weekends 9am - 7pm; Bank Holidays 9am - 5pm

Victim Support is the independent national charity for people affected by crime.

Their highly trained staff and volunteers in the community give free and confidential help to victims of crime, their family, friends and other people affected. This takes the form of:

• Emotional support - to help people deal with the personal effects of crime
• Information - so that victims and witnesses can make better informed choices after a crime, particularly in relation to their rights and in their dealing s with the criminal justice system.
• Practical help - which can range from help filling in forms and lock fitting services through to full advocacy where needed.

Victims don't have to report a crime to the police to receive help and can ask for support at any time, regardless of when the crime happened.

They have a network of offices right across England and Wales running and co-ordinating their local services. They also run the Witness Service in every criminal court to help those called as witnesses and the Victim Supportline gives immediate help over the phone and puts people in touch with their local teams. They are not a government agency or part of the police.

As well as providing these services, they campaign for greater awareness of the effects of crime and to increase the rights of victims and witnesses.