Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU)

Introduction

The VWCU is part of the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) within the Ministry of Defence.

The VWCU is independent of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force chains of command and will provide a singlecentral point of contact (SPOC) to victims and witnesses of serious crimes committed by persons subject to service personnellaw in the UK and overseas.

The VWCU provides holisticsupport careto victims and supportwitnesses, toboth victimsserving personnel and witnessescivilians, ensuring that each victim is afforded their rights in accordance with the code of practice for victims of crime (JSP 839).

The VWCU will:

• deliverempower victimvictims and witnesswitnesses satisfaction
• focusto onmake theinformed well-being of victimsdecisions
• promotecoordinate access to support for victims of crime
• providefocus on the well-being of victims and witnesses
• act as a singlecentral point of contact for victims and witnesses throughout the Service Justice System
• maintain compliance with the code of practice for victims of crime (JSP 839)

What we will do

The VWCU works with victims of crime who are entitled to an enhanced service in accordance with the Victims Code of Practice guidelines. This includes:

Victims of a serious offence, such as domestic abuse, hate crime, sexual assault, serious violent offences, attempted murder, arson with intent and kidnap.offence.

Persistently targeted victims, who have been a victim of crime repeatedly - for example being targeted, harassed or stalked.

Vulnerable victims whose quality of evidence may be affected because they:

• are under 18
• suffer from a mental health condition
• have a physical disability, a learning difficulty or social impairment

Intimidated victims, whose quality of evidence may be affected due to behaviour of the suspect or the suspect’s friends and family, or the victim’s religious or cultural beliefs.

The role of a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO)

EachThe referralrole toof the VWCU will be allocated a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO).is The VLO will:to:

• Contactmake contact with the victim by telephone to complete a detailed needs assessment to establishidentify anythe vulnerabilitylevel theyof may have and any support networks already in place.required
• Coordinatecoordinate referrals to support services that may be of benefit to enhanced victims – only with their consent.consent
• Actact as a singlecentral point of contact for any questions victims maythroughout have.
• Scheduletheir follow-upjourney callsof tothe ensureService theJustice supportSystem requestedand isbeyond, received.where required
• Providemaintain victimsregular contact with athe directvictim numberto forensure their allocatedrights VLO,are sobeing they can get straight through to them.met

If the victim’s case proceeds to court the VLO will remain with them throughout the process.

We haveadopt a number of multi-agency partnersapproach, while working with uspartners to help provide quickvictims and witnesses access to specialist support.

This includes:may include:

• independent domestic violence advisors
• independent sexual violence advisors
• victim support

Contact the VWCU

Email: people-dscc-vwcugroup@mod.gov.uk

We aim to respond to your email within five working days, but if you require a response sooner, please call on the number provided or highlight the urgency in an email.

Telephone: 07974 074 259 from 8.30am8am to 4.30pm4pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am8am to 3.30pm Friday

Write to:

In an emergency, always call 999. This includes:

• where a serious offence is in progress or has just been committed
• someone is in immediate danger or harm
• property is in danger of being damaged
• a serious disruption to the public is likely

What to expect if you report a crime to the Service Police

Being a victim of or a witness to a crime can often be difficult.difficult Youand distressing and you may not know very much about the Service Justice System.

However,The wedecision hopewhether that the support that is available to victimsreport andan witnessesincident willmay providenot reassurance;be enablean offenceseasy one to betake reported; and givewe theunderstand confidencethat toyou followmay theprefer processnot through.to.

WhenIf you decide to report a crime to the police they will take information about the offence and the crime will be recorded. You will be given a crime reference number, and you may be asked to provide a statement.

Investigation

The Service Police will record your account of what happened. This is called a statement of complaint or witness statement.

In some circumstances you may have your evidence visually recorded by specially trained interviewers and in a specialist interviewing facility. This could be due to your age (if under 18), the type of offence being investigated or whether you are a vulnerable or intimidated. This will be decided by the Service Police officer who will conduct a victim needs assessment with you before you provide evidence.

The Service Police may need to take evidence from you, such as fingerprints or forensic evidence, or they may need to look at your phone. If you have been injured, they may need to take photographs of your injuries.

The Service Police will explain to you at each step what evidence they need, and why they need it. If you have had to receive medical treatment, the Service Police will need your written consent before they can obtain any medical evidence about you.

What happens at the end of an investigation

After the Service Police have concluded their investigation, the evidence will be assessed, and a decision will be made as to whether the Service Police consider there is sufficient evidence to refer the case for a charging decision.

Cases can be referred either to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) or to the suspect’s Commanding Officer, depending on the type of offence, who will then decide whether to instigate proceedings and direct the case to Court Martial or Summary Hearing.

Your VLO willcan explain the categorisation of offences and this process in further detail.

What happens if my case is not referred

If the Service Police decide not to refer theyour case, you can ask them to review that decision.

If the SPA or the suspect’s Commanding Officer, after receiving the case, decide not to instigate proceedings, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.

Your VLO will provide you with further information and can assist you with this process.

What happens if my case goes to court

Pre-trial court visits

Most victims and witness will not have been to court, and a pre-trial court visit is a useful way to become familiar with the court in advance of the trial. Simply seeing the court, and where you and everyone else will be standing, may make the process easier. You can also use an alternative court entrance if you are worried about seeing the defendant when you arrivearrive.

Your atVLO courtcan forassist theyou trial.with making these arrangements.

The trial

You will meet the prosecutor at court and have time to read through your statements before you give evidence.

IfEnhanced thesupport allegationsuch isas aspecial sexualmeasures offenceare oravailable ain casecertain ofcircumstances, domesticthese abuse, there are measures (calledput Specialin Measures)place thatto arehelp oftenintimidated usedand vulnerable victims to makegive givingtheir best possible evidence in courtcourt.

Special easier.Measures Thesecan include giving evidence from behind a screen, so the victim or witness does not have to see the defendant, or giving evidence by live link.

These measures extend to witnesses and can be used, if the court allows, in any case.

Your VLO will discuss these measures in further detail to help you understand how they can support you.

Other victim and witness specialist support

To ensure that all victims and witnesses of crime receive the support they need, the following specialist helplines are available:

• support for victims and witnesses of crime
• support for victims of sexual violence and abuse
• support for victims of domestic abuse
• support if you are worried about hurting someone
• armed forces domestic abuse: a handbook for civilian support services
• armed forces domestic abuse: worldwide support

Latest news

New investigative unit launched to handle serious criminal offences across defence

MOD to establish Defence Serious Crime Unit

Related information

Defence Serious Crime Unit

Defence Serious Crime Command

Services to be provided by the armed forces to victims of crime (JSP 839)

The role of the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser

Aurora Abuse in the British Army and Royal Navy Support Service - Aurora New Dawn

Manual of service law (MSL)

The Military Court Service

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme