Victims Bill consultation – deadline 3 February
The Justice Secretary set out plans for a first ever Victims’ Law that would guarantee greater consultation with victims during the criminal justice process, to ensure their voices are properly heard.
The Victims Bill consultation will consider how we can make concrete improvements to victims’ experience of and confidence in the criminal justice system, and their support. You can respond to the consultation online.
Campaign Materials
The government is running a number of campaigns for vulnerable audiences. We would be grateful if you could share campaign materials and messaging on your channels, and with your networks.
- Stop Abuse Together aims to empower parents and carers to take steps to help keep the children in their life safe. Please find attached a digital toolkit for the campaign. All children have a right to be safe from sexual abuse, and we all have a role to play in keeping them safe. Let’s #StopAbuseTogether.
- #YouAreNotAlone aims to raise awareness and signpost to information and support available for victims, family/friends and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
- On GOV.UK there is full guidance and easy read guidance on getting help for Domestic Abuse.
- Campaign materials and updated assets, including a partner pack and translated assets, are available to download.
- The Ask for Ani scheme is operating in independent, Boots and Superdrug pharmacies. Posters and social media assets are available to download. For more information, materials or to provide feedback, please email [email protected].
- The Community Safeguarding Leaflet contains information and guidance for those who are still operating in communities to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect. The guidance covers signs to spot and what to do if there is a concern.
Stakeholder News and Campaigns
Launch of Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service
South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) and the Marie Collins Foundation launched a new Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service. This service aims to provide advice to a range of professionals across England, who encounter developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour among the children and young people they are working with. The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service has been funded by the Home Office and developed in collaboration with the Department for Education, and is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm on 0344 225 0623 or [email protected].
End-to-End Encryption (No Place to Hide) campaign launches
Barnardo’s, Marie Collins Foundation, Stop It Now! And SafeToNet launched the End-to-End Encryption Campaign with support from Government. The campaign aims to inform public opinion on the issue of end-to-end encryption and the implications for children’s safety online, putting pressure on social media companies to put child safety at the centre of their designs. End-to-end encryption, without adequate safety protections, poses a fundamental challenge to our efforts to protect children online.
Domestic Abuse Commissioner survivor survey on domestic abuse Services: DEADLINE EXTENDED to 14 February
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner has launched a national mapping survey aimed at 2.3m domestic abuse victims across England & Wales. It intends to be a comprehensive survey of all victims is first step in ending the ‘postcode lottery’ of services. The survey is for anyone aged over 16 who used or thought about using domestic abuse services in the last three years and closes on the 14 February 2022.
Victim’s Commissioner: Survey of Victims of Online Harms – deadline 20 February
The Victims’ Commissioner has today launched a new survey of victims of so-called ‘online harms’ in England and Wales. The survey seeks to better understand the lived experience of victims of online abusive and harmful behaviours.
The survey is open to all victims of any form of online abuse and harassment. It explores the prevalence of different types of online abuse, the impact these have on the victim, and the reporting behaviours of victims. The results and findings will be published on the Victims’ Commissioner website with a view to putting forward the victim perspective and informing public debate, as the Online Safety Bill progresses through Parliament.
