reg 203 Information, referral to victim support services and needs assessments
The Service Police must: (1) provide the entitlements set out in Part 3, Chapter 2 and, in relation to a child victim, Part 4, Chapter 2 where they are not specifically listed in the duties below; (2) provide all victims with a written acknowledgement of the crime that they have reported including the basic details of the offence. The written acknowledgement could be in the form of a letter, an electronic notification such as an email or text, or it could be written by hand. The victim may request not to receive such acknowledgement. Where the Service Police consider there may be a risk of harm to the victim from sending the written acknowledgement (for example in domestic violence cases), they may agree with the victim not to send one; (3) notify the victim, without unnecessary delay, of their entitlement to receive the following information: (a) any decision not to proceed with or to end an investigation or not to prosecute a suspect, including a brief summary or reasons for the decision where available; (b) the time and place of the trial or Summary Hearing, and the nature of the charges against the accused; (c) any final judgement in the trial or Summary Hearing, including a brief summary of reasons for the decision where available; (d) information enabling the victim to know about the state of the criminal proceedings on their request unless the proper handling of the case may be adversely affected by such notification; (e) where the victim is notified of a decision that qualifies for a review under the Service Police, Commanding Officers or Service Prosecuting Authority victims’ right to review schemes, that they are entitled to receive sufficient information to enable them to decide whether to request a review. (4) conduct a timely needs assessment to decide whether victims fall into one of the three priority categories: victims of the most serious crime, persistently targeted victims and vulnerable or intimidated victims (a child victim is automatically eligible for the enhanced services provided to vulnerable victims of crime) following the tests set out in Part 2 of this Code; (5) explain Special Investigation Measures and Special Measures where appropriate to victims in the three priority categories and record any views expressed by the victim about going to court or Summary Hearing. Establish what measures, if any, the victim feels they need to best help them give their evidence; (6) record the outcome of the needs assessment and requests for Special Investigation Measures and Special Measures and share this information with the Commanding Officer and the Service Prosecuting Authority as appropriate; (7) provide (in accordance with paragraphs 13 and 14 of this Code) all victims with the victim and witness information leaflets without unnecessary delay from the victim’s first contact (see the definitions in Part 6) with the Service Police; (8) discuss and seek to agree with the victim (or, in relation to a child victim: the victim or their parent or guardian) how often they will receive updates about the case; (9) inform all victims about this Code and how they can find out more about it; (10) explain to all victims that their details will be passed to victim support services by the Service Police if they wish this to happen ; (11) seek explicit consent from victims before sending their details to victim support services ; (12) inform all victims that they can choose to refer themselves to victim support services at a later date and provide information about victim support services, including contact details ; (13) explain that any witness statement that is taken may result in the victim having to give evidence in court or Summary hearing at a later date; (14) explain, without unreasonable delay, a decision not to investigate a crime; (15) advise the victim, without unreasonable delay, when an investigation into a case has been concluded with no person being referred and explain the reasons. The Service Police or Commanding Officer, as appropriate, must ask the victim if they wish to be informed if the investigation is to be re-opened. A record of their response should be made. The victim’s views are to be sought and must be considered if re-opening of the case is formally considered.