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Key Services Crime & Safety Domestic Violence / Sexual Abuse Visual Evidence for Victims | Visual Evidence for Victims | | Print | |
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Visual Evidence for Victims supports victims of crime (aged 18 and over) that have not reported the incident, for whatever reason. VEV was set up to allow victims to have evidence of a crime recorded by a voluntary sector agency, so a victim does not have to go to the police.
The agencies involved in the project are trained to record photographic evidence that is admissible as evidence in court. The training is provided by the West Midlands Police and the cameras are approved by the Crown Prosecution Service. The approved Polaroid cameras are used to take photograph of injuries to people or damage to property caused by Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence or Hate crime (crimes committed against an individual because of their sexuality, race religion disability).
Physical injuries:
Damage to property:
VEV service is completely confidential and free of charge. We will NOT tell anyone else that we have taken photographs. The supporting agencies store the photographs securely for future use, and they can be kept for up to 6 years. The evidence can be used for reporting crime to the police at a later stage, and in any criminal proceedings as a result. It can also be used in civil proceedings (for example to get an injunction), or to support a claim for criminal injuries compensation. The victim is able to decide when and if the photographs are used. If the victim wishes to use them as evidence they must give their signed consent. If the victim no longer wishes the photo to be kept, they can consent to them being destroyed. The project aims to support victims of violence crime by allowing them to have evidence recorded by voluntary sector agency. Its long terms goals are to reduce instances of repeat victimisation and increase successful prosecutions. The VEV service is currently available in Coventry, Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall. It will be available at one site in Dudley from 1st November (pilot project) and is due to be set up in Wolverhampton in Jan 2008. VEV has been running in Birmingham for over 4 years, with great success. In one case the VEV evidence played a crucial part in securing a conviction at the Birmingham Crown Court for a serial sexual offender, who targeted street sex workers. Five cases have gone to criminal court using VEV evidence, and five cases have gone to civil court. The project is supported by DCI Jo Chilton, who contributed to writing and updating the protocols. Coventry has been running the project for over a year now, and has also had great success. To date 87 people have been offered the service, and 35 sets of evidence have been recorded that would otherwise have been lost. Two sets of evidence have been passed to the police and four to solicitors for civil action. Click to view Sandwell VEV Agencies who support the VEV service.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 November 2007 ) |
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