ABSTRACT
This chapter documents the duties imposed on the UK in terms of Council of Europe instruments to encourage support and assistance to victims of crime. It evaluates the activities of ‘official’ agencies, such as Victim Support and the recently established Witness Care Units, and contends that, by supporting and promoting the activities of these agencies, the government has complied with its duties. However, as some victims from unequal social groups do not report their victimisation to the police and do not approach Victim Support for assistance, this chapter also considers the work of various ‘unofficial’ victims’ organisations whose activities are geared to meeting the needs of such victims.
