ABSTRACT
Police play a vital role in responding to and providing support for victims in the aftermath of crime: being present and guiding victims to assist reporting crime, the investigation, and victim support/referral as well as possibly attending court. Because each victim is unique, the challenge for police is to provide solutions, guided by policy and law, which meet the different needs and feelings of the people seeking their assistance. This chapter will identify the best practice for police and victim interaction, barriers to reporting to police, and causal factors for vulnerable victims that can suffer if not dealt with by police correctly. National coronial data will provide the four case studies used to illustrate the main points of this chapter. Policy and practice implications will be offered.
