Supporting Victims and Witnesses of crime

Victim Support NI

Our Community Service is often the first point of contact with Victim Support NI, as we help people to cope with the immediate impact of crime through practical and emotional support.  Staff and volunteers are continuing to provide that much needed support but these are via telephone appointments only.

If you have a general enquiry, we encourage you to use our online chat facility on our website.

As all courts are now closed to the general public, including victims and witnesses, our Witness Service offices are also closed. Our staff in these offices have been in contact with those whose cases have been adjourned to explain the new situation, and how it will affect their case. If anyone is due to attend court in the coming months and has any queries, they can still contact us via our Witness Service telephone numbers or online via our website.

We know that a delay in court cases can case distress to victims and witnesses. If you would like to talk to someone about how you are feeling, please do get in touch.

We have a number of advocacy services which also continue to operate. Our ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advocates) and ChISVAs (Child Independent Sexual Violence Advocates) have moved to providing support via telephone only, as has our Hate Crime Advocate.

Similarly, we are still providing support to assist those who wish to apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation, or who have queries about their existing application, but please note that all Compensation Appeals have also been suspended for now.

Our ART project, which provides therapy to children and young people who have impacted by aggression related trauma, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse in the Northern Trust area, continues to operate via online and telephone contact.

If you have been a victim or witness of crime, you can continue to contact us.

Our phone lines do remain open but may be busy so if your query is not urgent then we would ask that you consider email first. 

Belfast Hub: Tel: 02890 243133; Email: belfast@victimsupportni.org.uk

Foyle Hub: Tel: 02871 370086; Email: foyle@victimsupportni.org.uk

www.victimsupportni.co.uk

Twitter: @VictimSupportNI

Facebook: @VictimSupportNorthernIreland