Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Do the police make referrals to Victim Support?

14 replies

Falalalala777 · 31/12/2020 14:05

I've received a text from Victim Support saying they know I've been the victim of a crime and will be in touch.

I did report a crime and was asked to provide a victim impact statement but the officer made it clear at the time that he was doing it as a formality. He felt it was a civil matter.

Can anyone help me understand why I've received this text? Could he have made the referral?

Thank you.

OP posts:

NurseButtercup · 31/12/2020 14:07

Yes the police do actively refer victim's of crime to victims support.

Coldilox · 31/12/2020 14:14

Yes, it’s generally an automatic referral for most crime types.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 31/12/2020 14:15

Yes, I think it happens less frequently though - or followed up by VS less frequently.

About 10-15 years ago - reported a car that had driven into a parked car outside my house and driven off- Can't imagine why I'd have needed support.
Couple of years ago, called police because I was in a park when a teen pulled a machete on another group of teens, mass brawl ensued, several of them had weapons. I managed to leave the park & make 999 call.
No physical injuries, but I was very shaken - no contact whatsoever.

Corriefan2021 · 31/12/2020 14:15

Yes they do

Original poster

Falalalala777 · 31/12/2020 14:25

Thank you for the responses.

One more question if that's ok. Does this mean he is treating it as a crime and investigating it? I'm being harassed and the civil courts are closed. It would mean a lot to think the police were at least inviting the people involved in for interview as they might back off. Next week I will have my solicitor's support so I just need to keep them at bay until then.

OP posts:

Original poster

Falalalala777 · 31/12/2020 14:26

everyday

I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience.

OP posts:

Deelish75 · 31/12/2020 14:34

Yes they do, but when I was referred the police informed me first.

Deelish75 · 31/12/2020 14:36

I was a victim of harassment as well, the police did investigate and speak to the perpetrator which was enough to get the little shit to leave me alone.

WeeDangerousSpike · 31/12/2020 14:42

I had my handbag taken while I was distracted trying on shoes. It was then handed in at the shop minus all my cash.

I phoned the police to see if they would look at the cctv to see who had taken it (I very strongly suspected that it was the person who handed it in)

They told me they wouldn't be looking at any cctv and weren't interested in investigating at all. They still referred me to victim support.

Original poster

Falalalala777 · 31/12/2020 14:51

Yes they do, but when I was referred the police informed me first.

I'm glad things worked out for you. I had a missed call from a private number earlier while I was working but haven't got through to the officer handling the case yet - perhaps the call was about that.

Weedangerous

Where's that logic in that?! I'm sorry you were stolen from.

OP posts:

JovialNickname · 31/12/2020 14:52

Yes they do automatically refer you to Victim Support, but no that does not necessarily mean they are treating it as a crime and are investigating it (is my understanding as a layperson). If they are treating it as a crime you will have a crime reference number, and a police liason officer who will be in regular touch to keep you abreast of the investigation and any developments.

Victim Support is a charity funded counselling service, provided so that you can talk through your feelings about the incident with a volunteer. It is not in any way connected to the formal police crime or investigative process.

The above is my understanding but I have no formal knowledge of the system.

Original poster

Falalalala777 · 31/12/2020 15:19

Thanks very much for that jovial.

OP posts:

WeeDangerousSpike · 31/12/2020 18:32

Thanks OP. It's silly really, I was quite shaken up over it, even though there was no 'threat' involved at all. I still can't bear to use that handbag and it was about 3 years ago.
What really pissed me off, is I saw the woman hand it over to the staff, so I went and got it, and then walked up to her and thanked her for handing it in. It was only after that I checked it and found the cash gone. Her weird, scared, rabbit in the headlights look when I approached holding the bag made me think it was her that took the money, and the fact I'd thanked her really rankled!

Witchend · 31/12/2020 19:04

I did.

I had a lovely conversation with them as I wasn't really even a little bit shocked from the incident.

The basic gist was I was just getting into my car at work near a multi-storey when a full McD's coke landed within about half a yard of me, splashing me. I could hear in the multi-storey kids messing about.

I phoned the police on the basis that if they were going to do that again (and I was quite impressed with their aim) that we had a number of elderly or vulnerable people who use the car park for whom that would have been a huge shock, and, if it had hit them, could actually have caused injury.
I knew the police would be able to just pop round and give the kids a move on order, as they are just up the road from the police station.

The police put it down as an assault. Tbf it was, but I wasn't shocked, perhaps a little sticky, but no more. I definitely, and I was very clear to the police, I was fine.

Flip