Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will replicate for victims and survivors of Northern Ireland-related acts of terrorism in Great Britain the support services available in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Simon Hughes
I can confirm that in 2013 the Government published a revised Code of Practice for Victims of Crime which sets out the entitlements of victims to support including enhanced support for victims of more serious crime including families bereaved by crime.
The Government is making available more funding than ever before to support all victims of crime, almost doubling current funding with a potential budget of up to £100m to help them cope and where possible recover from the impact that crime has had on their lives.
Since 2010, the Ministry of Justice has provided funding to Victim Support to run the national Homicide Service which provides tailored and intensive support to families bereaved by homicide after 2010 based on need. This includes practical support such as help funeral arrangements, bank accounts, forming employers and schools, preparing bereaved families to attend court and the provision of legal services. From October 2014, Victim Support will run a newly enhanced national Homicide Service for those bereaved after 2010 which in addition to providing of existing services will incorporate specialist trauma and bereavement counselling for both adults and children and for the first time peer support.
The Ministry of Justice also provides separate funding to a number of peer support and specialist therapy organisations which can support those bereaved by homicide.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 is available to compensate blameless victims of violent crime. The Scheme is available for people injured in Great Britain and focuses on paying compensation to direct victims of a crime of violence. Northern Ireland has its own scheme, as do many other countries.
From 1 October 2014, the majority of support services for victims of crime will be locally commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners. With their knowledge of local victims' needs and priorities, PCCs are uniquely placed to ensure that funding is targeted according to need.
Individual victims and survivors of Northern-Ireland related acts of terrorism who are resident in England and Wales are able to apply for funding from the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) in Northern Ireland. The VSS is the main funder of victims' groups in Northern Ireland and provides a tailored package to meet the individual needs of victims and survivors including counselling, physiotherapy and the purchase of equipment such as wheelchairs.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support the Government provides to victims and survivors of Northern Ireland-related acts of terrorism in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Simon Hughes
I can confirm that in 2013 the Government published a revised Code of Practice for Victims of Crime which sets out the entitlements of victims to support including enhanced support for victims of more serious crime including families bereaved by crime.
The Government is making available more funding than ever before to support all victims of crime, almost doubling current funding with a potential budget of up to £100m to help them cope and where possible recover from the impact that crime has had on their lives.
Since 2010, the Ministry of Justice has provided funding to Victim Support to run the national Homicide Service which provides tailored and intensive support to families bereaved by homicide after 2010 based on need. This includes practical support such as help funeral arrangements, bank accounts, forming employers and schools, preparing bereaved families to attend court and the provision of legal services. From October 2014, Victim Support will run a newly enhanced national Homicide Service for those bereaved after 2010 which in addition to providing of existing services will incorporate specialist trauma and bereavement counselling for both adults and children and for the first time peer support.
The Ministry of Justice also provides separate funding to a number of peer support and specialist therapy organisations which can support those bereaved by homicide.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 is available to compensate blameless victims of violent crime. The Scheme is available for people injured in Great Britain and focuses on paying compensation to direct victims of a crime of violence. Northern Ireland has its own scheme, as do many other countries.
From 1 October 2014, the majority of support services for victims of crime will be locally commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners. With their knowledge of local victims' needs and priorities, PCCs are uniquely placed to ensure that funding is targeted according to need.
Individual victims and survivors of Northern-Ireland related acts of terrorism who are resident in England and Wales are able to apply for funding from the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) in Northern Ireland. The VSS is the main funder of victims' groups in Northern Ireland and provides a tailored package to meet the individual needs of victims and survivors including counselling, physiotherapy and the purchase of equipment such as wheelchairs.