LVWS – Victim Support
If you have agreed to be referred to Victim Support’s Pre-trial Witness Support Service, a caseworker will contact you by email, SMS or phone (using a withheld number) and arrange a time to complete a needs assessment.
The Pre-trial Witness Support Service can:
- provide support guides and information
- provide techniques and information to support your wellbeing
- arrange a separate entrance into the court if you are deemed to be vulnerable or intimidated
- arrange a pre-trial visit to the court: you can visit an empty courtroom for a guided tour and have the process and who’s who in the courtroom explained to you. (You can also access a recorded, virtual pre-trial visit on the LVWS website, as well as being able to book on one of our live pre-trial visit webinars.)
- review information about special measures with you
- discuss on-the-day support at court and inform the court-based Witness Service of any special requirements you may need
- assist you with making a victim personal statement
- check in directly with you following the outcome of the trial and explain sentencing
- inform you about criminal injuries compensation, if this applies, and further support or referral for legal advice if needed
- explore restorative justice with you and any other support services, such as the Victim Contact Scheme or other specialist services
- provide support through the impact the crime has had and/or the appeal process if this applies or is needed.
