The charity Victim Support is today (Wednesday 4 December) speaking out against the government’s plans to cut funding for vital support services for victims of crime – including domestic abuse and sexual violence victim-survivors.

The charity says that, if the government does not reverse these cuts and instead increase the victims’ services grant to cover national insurance rises, many victims of crime will go without vital support.

The 4.2 per cent cut to the funding available to commission core victims’ services across England and Wales comes as charities face immense cost pressures brought by the government’s rise in National Insurance contributions.

The charity says that, because of these recent funding decisions, it faces a deficit of around £3.5 million, seven per cent of its overall income, meaning it will likely have to cut services.

The cut comes despite the government’s manifesto commitments to halve serious violence and violence against women and girls, and alongside an increase of 5.6 per cent to the Ministry of Justice’s budget, which pays for victims’ services, courts and prisons.

For Victim Support, the funding deficit equates to around 85 members of staff, delivering vital support for people who have been the victim of horrendous crimes, like violent assault, sexual violence, domestic abuse, hate crime and fraud.

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support, said:

“This unprecedented cut to victims’ services funding, combined with the increase in national insurance contributions, is devastating for our services. Unless this decision is reversed, the stark reality is that people who have experienced the shock and trauma of crime, including domestic abuse and sexual violence survivors, will have to go without vital support.

“The timing could not be worse. Faith in the police is at rock bottom, court delays are at record levels, and many victims are fast losing faith in the criminal justice system altogether. Support services like ours are a lifeline. Given the government’s commitments to halving serious violence and halving violence against women and girls, it seems unfathomable that they would cut funding to the very services that support them.

“The government must honour their manifesto commitments by immediately reversing this cut and instead increase the victims’ services grant to cover national insurance rises.”

Laura, 32, was repeatedly beaten and abused during and after her relationship with her violent ex-partner.

Her Victim Support caseworker attended court with her and was, “such a massive help”.

“I could ring her four times in a day or a week and she would answer the phone or say she would get back to me which she always did.

“She came to court with me and has been in meetings with me and the police officers. She’s also helped me with my complaint going through against the police.”

Matt Randle, director of justice at Catch22, which delivers victims’ services in Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and for young Londoners, said:

“The changes to National Insurance are costly – and alongside cuts to funding, there is little room for manoeuvre.

“Government must work with the voluntary sector to find the best ways to make what money there is go further and properly meet the needs of victims.”

Des, 58, lost £75,000 to fraud, after clicking on a fake advert supposedly featuring Martin Lewis.

“I felt like jumping off the cliff at the bottom of my road. I had put myself in the most comfortable financial position I had ever been in in my life and now I was a bag of jelly.”

He was referred to Victim Support’s specialist fraud service and described his caseworker as, “a wonderful man” who, “has helped me immensely.”

“He’s been an angel because I haven’t got anyone else to professionally support me. He is so educated about the system and what I’m going through and so he can bring his expertise to my case.

“He has been brilliant in dealing with the financial ombudsman because he understands. Sometimes I have quite a hard time understanding certain parts of what’s said or written. He chases up things and talks to people on my behalf – so he’s become my representative.”

The charity says these are the kinds of services which may be threatened by the government’s proposed cuts.

Victim Support is calling on the government to urgently reverse the cut to funding for victims’ services and instead increase the victims’ services grant to cover national insurance rises.