We support children and young people affected by crime, keeping you informed and helping you access advice and services.
If a child or young person aged 10 to 17 living in Flintshire commits a crime against you and it is reported to North Wales Police, we will contact you. Our Victim Liaison and Restorative Justice officer will usually reach out upon receiving a referral from the Police or Courts, but only if you have given the Police permission for us to do so.
If we have your telephone number or e-mail address, we will contact you as soon as possible. If we cannot reach you by phone, we will send you a letter. If you are a victim of crime and you are under eighteen, then we will call and send a letter to your parent/carer.
Code of practice for victims of crime
This code of practice for victims of crime forms a key part of the wider government strategy to transform the criminal justice system by putting victims at the centre of justice and detailing how agencies are required to respond to crime in our local communities. For more information please follow the links at the bottom of the page.
The code requires the Flintshire YJS to take victims’ needs into account in general and the Youth Justice Service must:
- ensure staff working with victims have appropriate training
- contact victims and allow them to make informed choices about involvement in restorative processes
- keep victims who agree informed about case progress, outcome, breach and restorative justice interventions they may to consider/participate in
- store victims’ information safely and securely I accordance with FCC Privacy notice (see link below)
- Parents or guardians of young victims under 17 (as long as they aren’t themselves the subject of investigation or charge) can receive services under the code as well as the young person.
- If you are a victim of crime you can choose not to receive services under the code at any time. The code states that the criminal justice system as a whole should be flexible and ensure that you receive the level of service you want at a particular time.
- The obligations of the code apply to direct victims, not third parties or indirect victims such as witnesses and requires the Flintshire YJS to ensure that Under 17-year-old victims are defined as vulnerable and qualify for an enhanced level of service. This can mean additional support in Court should you be required to attend as a witness, or access to specialist support services providing emotional and practical support recognising the demands of coping with being a young victim of a serious crime.
What can we at the Flintshire Youth Justice Service do for you?
We will come out and meet with you, listen to your views and explain how we can support you. Should this not be possible, we will offer you a phone or TEAMS contact.
Your involvement is completely confidential, voluntary and free. We will:
- ask you what has happened
- talk about the impact it’s had on you and or your family, colleagues, and friends
- refer on for any additional support needs you have identified, to agencies providing support including victim help centre North Wales, Citizens Advice, statutory agencies including social services Early Help Hub or other specialised agencies supporting victims of domestic violence, sexual offences, or hate- related offences
- discuss any worries or concerns you have following the crime
- give you the opportunity to have your views taken into account during the decision-making process
- explain the young person's sentence and how the sentence/outcome decision was made and what informed that decision,
- ask if you would like to be kept informed of key developments during the young person's sentence
- ask you if you would like to participate in the various restorative justice interventions that may be available and explore what this may look like for you and your needs.
Our responsibility to you includes that all times the Flintshire Youth Justice Service and the Victim Liaison and Restorative Justice Officer will respect your views, ensure confidentiality and provide a safe environment for any meetings. We will not contact you again if you ask us not to, or put any pressure on you to meet with the young person who has committed the offence if you do not wish to do so
The Flintshire Youth Justice Service aims to prevent and reduce offending by young people in our communities. We believe one of the ways to do this is for young people who commit crimes to be supported in taking responsibility for the harm they have caused their victims. Restorative justice gives you, the victim a chance to ask the offender questions or tell them how their behaviour has affected you. It can help you to gain closure and have peace of mind. It can also be an opportunity to have put right the harm you have experienced. Restorative justice allows the young person to make amends to you and the wider community. The restorative justice officer will support you to meet with the young person who has harmed you and to help you to explain the real impact of the crime. Should you consider taking part in this you will have your needs and wishes taken into account and will be fully supported in any choices you make. Participation in the process is completely voluntary, and you can change your mind at any time.
For more information on how restorative justice practices can work for you please follow the following link to a short film.
If you do not wish to meet the young person who has committed the offence against you, your views can be represented by the victim liaison officer, who will support and inform you throughout the process. You may wish to consider the type of reparation the young person should carry out; the reparation could be for you (direct reparation) or for the wider community (indirect).
The Youth Justice Service provides support for Justice involved children aged between 8-17 years. The aim of the service is to prevent offending by children and young people. As part of this we also ensure that the needs of victims are assessed, that victims have a voice and are supported following a crime.
Initially our Restorative Justice Officer will contact you by letter, email or phone. As part of this contact we will endeavour to;
- Complete an assessment to identify how you can best be supported following a crime,
- Discuss the offence with you and explore opportunities to have your voice heard,
- Explore ways to help you feel safe
- Identify any services that can support you
- Keep you updated on a case that affects you
No, in order to contact you we need your consent. You need to provide this to the Police when they contact you.
The service is voluntary and you can decide how much time and how long you wish to be involved.
We will agree with you how, when and where you wish to be contacted.
As part of the assessment we will explore with you what support you need and explore appropriate services who can support you.
As a victim of a crime you have a number of rights under the Victim’s Code which can be accessed here.
You are still a victim of crime and have the same rights and any crime should not be seen as ‘part of the job’. We are keen to ensure your voice is heard and you are supported. We appreciate that if you are working shifts it can be difficult to arrange a time to meet with the YJS, however, we can be flexible to accommodate your needs.
Please contact our Restorative Justice Officer on 01352 701125 or email yot.admin@flintshire.gov.uk
Who to contact in Flintshire
Restorative Justice Officer
Tel: 01352 701125
Additional Information
Links to agencies that may support/advise or guide you as a victim of crime