THE Victim Care Merseyside hub is celebrating its 3rd anniversary, having now offered help to more than 130,000 victims of crime.

Delivered by the Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Victim Care Merseyside is a support service designed to help victims of crime in the aftermath of a crime.

Launched in 2022 the hub is an integral part of the Victim Care Merseyside service – providing a single point of contact for all victims of crime, offering them free, confidential, tailored advice and support - whether a crime has been reported to the police or not.

In the last year alone, the hub team of 15 dedicated victim care advisers and managers has offered specialist advice and support to more than 41,000 victims, bringing the total number of people receiving the offer up to 131,534.

Of those, more than 14,500 victims have been spoken to by the team and had their needs assessed – an average of 737 victims each month.

The service has proved vital for many victims with feedback highlighting the difference the emotional and practical care makes to those trying to cope and recover after a crime.

• “I cannot thank you enough. I can’t believe you have done this for me, no one has done this for me.  You are in my heart, thank you so much.”

• “Phenomenal, you went above and beyond and contacted me every week as well as putting a number of referrals in for me. You repaired me through your support.”

• “The support I have received has been unreal. (My Victim Care Officer) has been really good and has helped me cope with what has been going on and also helped put things into perspective, which has helped me with my mental health.’

• ‘(My Victim Care Officer) was amazing.  She called me every week.  Without her I would have crumbled. She tried to get me counselling. She let me talk, she understood, did not point the finger.  I so much appreciated help I really did.”

• “Your support was invaluable, giving me someone to talk to who understands trauma as my friends often did not want to talk about it and did not understand the trauma I had been through.  Thank you for being a genuinely nice person with a good heart.”

• ‘I felt very listened to.  There are no words to thank (my Victim Care Officer) for what she did she saved my life.  She was amazing, phenomenal - she was always there when I needed her.”
   

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- “When I launched the Victim Care Merseyside hub 3 years ago, my ambition was simple – to make sure every victim of crime in our Region could access the right support at the right time. These figures show just how far we’ve come in delivering on that promise. Behind every number is a person whose life has been impacted crime, and there is no doubt, the hub has become a vital lifeline - offering practical advice, emotional support, and access to specialist services when people need it most. I’m incredibly proud of the care, compassion, and guidance our team provides every single day, helping vulnerable people to cope and recover. We know that not everyone needs that care and help immediately after a crime. It may take weeks, months, even years. That’s why I want to remind people, there is no deadline on that support provided by the Victim Care Merseyside hub – when you need help, they will be there, so please don’t suffer in silence.”

Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable Rob Carden said:- “Hearing the number of people that have used the Victim Care service over the past 3 years is a testament to the hub’s vital role in our community and how much of a lifeline it has become for thousands of people affected by crime. From the Force’s perspective, this service not only delivers tailored support for victims but also plays a critical role in identifying and addressing recurring issues. This is essential to ensuring we provide the highest standard of policing across Merseyside.”

The hub also refers victims and liaises closely with the 10 other specialist services commissioned by the PCC as part of Victim Care Merseyside. These services provide specialist support to people affected by some of the most serious crimes including families who have had a loved one murdered, those who have survived rape and sexual offences, and those affected by hate crime.

Victim Care Merseyside hub manager Nicky Griffiths said:- “I am incredibly proud of our team of Victim Care Team advisors. Every day, they go above and beyond to provide care, reassurance and practical help to people at their most vulnerable. The feedback we receive from victims shows the real difference this support makes – helping people to feel heard, understood and supported. That’s what drives us to keep improving and expanding the service.”

If you’ve been affected by crime, Victim Care Merseyside is here to provide support. Call Freephone:- 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm or request support online at this link at any time.