What is the Victim Engagement Forum
Have you been a victim of a crime in Gloucestershire in the last three years? Would you like to share your views and experiences to help shape policing in the county? Join the Victim’s Forum.
The Victim’s Forum is a collective of people who have been a victim of a crime in Gloucestershire in the last three years.
By signing up you will be agreeing to include your name and details on a register of victims who are willing to be contacted by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Gloucestershire Constabulary and other criminal justice agencies in the county.
We want to hear your views, experiences and opinions on policing and the criminal justice system so we can include them in future plans and strategies to make things better for future victims.
By bringing together victims and partner organisations, the forum will help ensure services remain responsive, accessible and informed by those who use them. It will also support the identification of emerging needs, contribute to service evaluation, inform commissioning decisions and strengthen accountability across the victim care pathway.
Putting Victims at the Heart of the Criminal Justice System
Being a victim of crime can have a significant and lasting impact on a person’s emotional, psychological, physical and financial wellbeing. While bringing offenders to justice remains a key objective of the Criminal Justice System, it is equally important that victims receive the support they need, are treated with dignity and respect, and feel confident that their voices are heard throughout the process.
Listening, Learning and Improving
Creating an effective support system for victims requires a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Understanding the lived experiences of victims provides valuable insight into how services are delivered and where changes can make the greatest difference.
As a result, criminal justice organisations are increasingly embracing co-production, recognising that victims are often best placed to identify barriers, highlight gaps in support and suggest new ways of working.
Above all, the forum demonstrates a shared commitment to listening, learning and improving. By placing victims’ experiences at the centre of service development, it will help build public confidence and ensure support services continue to meet the needs of victims across Gloucestershire.