> About us > Departments > Quality of service > Dealing effectively with victims of crime

To fulfil the obligations of the Victims’ Code of Practice we will identify vulnerable victims. We work with vulnerable victims in accordance with British Transport Police’s (BTP) victim and witness policies. All victims must be made aware of the progress of an investigation including any decisions about subsequent action i.e. arrest, caution, reprimand, warning or charge, release on bail and court proceedings.

Victim Support

Victim Support is the national charity for people affected by crime. It provides a free and confidential service independent from the police. Trained staff and volunteers offer information, support and practical help. They can provide:

help with any questions you have
someone to talk to in confidence about what has happened
a wide range of information, on the police process to crime prevention
practical help, such as help with filling out forms
support at court if you are called as a witness
help with any other concerns you may have because of the crime

You may have already been referred to Victim Support or you may have opted out; either way you can contact them on 0845 30 30 900. Contact details for other useful support agencies can be found at the bottom of this page.

Reporting a Crime

You can report a crime by calling : 0800 40 50 40. When you report a crime BTP will give you:

contact details for the officer of Crime Management Unit responsible for your case
a crime reference number which you should quote when you contact us

We will keep you informed of any significant developments within your case. Sometimes, even though we have a suspect, we may not have enough evidence to charge them. The officer in the case will explain the reasons why the suspect has not been charged and, if there are no further lines of enquiry, the case will be closed. If a charge is brought, we will pass your file on to your local Witness Care Unit who will manage the care of victims and witnesses from the point of charge through to the conclusion of the case.

Code of Practice for Victims of Crime

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime outlines the minimum standards of service victims are entitled to receive from the British Transport Police. This includes a right to:

information about the progress of your case on at least a monthly basis, including the right to be notified of any arrests and court cases
be told about Victim Support and either referred on to them or offered their service
be in or out of services to ensure you receive the level of service you want
an enhanced service if you have been identified as a vulnerable or intimidated victim

Full details can be found in The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime: A Guide for Victims which is available in several languages

Links

Criminal Justice System Walk-Through

The Witness Charter

Victim Support

Code of Practice for victims of crime