Clarke announces additional funding to help victims of homicide
Ken Clarke has announced an additional £500,000 to help victims of homicide, following the publication of the Victims Commissioner's report.
The extra money will be used to increase the number of professional caseworkers in the Homicide Service, to strengthen the role of befriending and peer support services and to provide better training for those working with people bereaved by homicide.
Louise Casey’s review into the needs of families bereaved by homicide, was commissioned by the Justice Secretary to help understand the needs of this vulnerable group. It was undertaken over a six-month period and has drawn on the experiences of over 400 bereaved families.
The report’s findings will play a critical role in informing the Government’s approach to supporting victims: to ensure that our time, money and best efforts are targeted at those in greatest need.
Secretary of State Kenneth Clarke said: ‘We can never make things right for families bereaved through crime and it would be foolish to pretend that any level of support could ever achieve this. But we can do more to ensure that families get the help they need and that the practical impacts of bereavement are minimised. That is why I am making an additional £500,000 available this year to increase the number of professional caseworkers in the Homicide Service and to provide better training for those working with people bereaved by homicide.
‘This is in addition to £2.25 million being invested in the Homicide Service and in specialist, voluntary organisations which provide bereaved families with a dedicated caseworker, emotional support and practical help to cope with housing, benefits and funeral arrangements.
‘We are working on our review of all victim support arrangements - this will include consideration of victims’ services, entitlements and redress, designed to ensure that that our time, money and best efforts are targeted at those in greatest need. As part of this review, we have been in constant dialogue with the Victims’ Commissioner, victims and victim support organisations.’