Research suggests that victim engagement with support services is generally low, and that many individuals are at risk of trauma symptomology and associated negative psychological outcomes as a result. The existing literature examining barriers to engagement with victim services is relatively small and largely quantitative, and a detailed qualitative examination of decisions to engage with victim services has yet to be undertaken. To address this gap in the literature, the current study examined provision of information and referral processes by the police, initial and follow up contact with support services, and perceived barriers to engagement. Victim evaluations of accessed services were also examined. 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the victims of violent criminal victimisation during a 6 month period in a Police Force in England and Wales. Participants who engaged with victim services reported experiencing significant benefits as a result of the support they received. However, there was a generally low level of engagement with Victim Support and other services in the sample. A number of different factors associated with lack of engagement were identified by the analysis, consistent with previous research. The paper ends by considering the implications of the study for developing more effective strategies for increasing victim engagement in ways consistent with current local, national and European policy. 3Public policy in the United Kingdom has recently placed greater emphasis on the importance of the needs of victims and a focus on increasing their engagement with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and support services (Burrows, 2014;Ministry of Justice, 2015). This is a timely change in focus given that the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) recorded 1.9 million violent incidents in 2012/13 (Office for National Statistics, 2014). These figures suggest that there are a significant number of victims of violent crime each year who, as a result of their experiences, are at risk of developing trauma symptoms (e.g., avoidance behaviours, negative moods) which can subsequently lead to substance use problems, poor emotional regulation, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders (Davidson, Devaney and Spratt, 2010;Stimmel, Cruise, Ford and Weiss, 2014; Walsh, Danielson, McCauley, Saunders, Kipatrick and Resnick, 2012). These victimisation impacts are not limited to the specific time at which the crime occurs, but can also have long term consequences for psychological and physical health (Halligan, Michael, Clark and Ehlers, 2003).These complex and potentially long term impacts of victimisation indicate the need to ensure the availability and access to appropriate support services for individuals in such situations to help them cope with their experiences (Mayhew and Reilly, 2008;Ringham and Salisbury, 2004). This is reflected in current policy and policing procedures in England and Wales which refer the victims of violent crime who access police services to Victim Support in or...

This study explores the contribution that traumatic experiences and psychological post-traumatic stress symptoms make to predicting subsequent revictimisation in a sample of violent crime victims. In addition, the timing of first trauma exposure was also explored. Fifty-four adult victims (27 male and 27 female) of police recorded violent crime were interviewed and their traumatic exposure history, trauma symptomology, age at first trauma exposure as well as psychological and psychosocial functioning were assessed. These victims were followed longitudinally and subsequent revictimisation between six and twelve months post index victimisation measured. A greater number of types of trauma exposure was related lower emotional stability, higher trauma symptomology and revictimisation. Those victims with childhood traumatic exposure reported more trauma symptomology exposure than those without prior exposure. The implications for law enforcement and victim services are discussed.

Purpose – There is a body of evidence that suggests a range of psychosocial characteristics demarcate certain adults to be at an elevated risk for victimisation. The purpose of this paper is to examine consistency between one police force, and a corresponding Victim Support service based in England, in their assessment of level of risk faced by victims of violent crime. Design/methodology/approach – This study explored matched data on 869 adult victims of violent crime gathered from these two key services in Preston, namely, Lancashire Constabulary and Victim Support, from which a sub-group of comparable “domestic violence” cases (n=211) were selected for further examination. Findings – Data analyses revealed methodological inconsistencies in the assessment of victimisation resulting in discrepancies for recorded levels of risk in domestic violence cases across these two agencies. Practical implications – These findings provide a compelling argument for developing a more uniformed approach to victim assessment and indicate a significant training need. Originality/value – This paper highlights areas of good practice and forwards several recommendations for improved practice that emphasises the integration of empirical research conducted by psychologists to boost the validity and reliability of risk assessment approaches and tools used.

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