Police and Crime Commissioners and Victim Service Commissioning: From Activism to Marketisation?

Abstract

This chapter examines the significant changes to the commissioning of local victim support services in England and Wales. The year 2012 saw one of the most significant changes to the way in which police forces in England and Wales are managed. For the first time, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) were elected and, amongst other duties, they became responsible for commissioning services to support victims in their local areas from 2015. Effectively, this heralded the end of the national charity Victim Support’s monopoly on victim support service provision across the country. This chapter outlines the recent history of support for victims of crime and uses this watershed moment to reflect on this break in tradition. It considers and critically reflects on the governance arrangements that now exist to support victims affected by different types of victimisation, the similarities and differences in service provision, and the impact on those organisations tasked to assist victims in their recovery. Comparisons with other jurisdictions across the globe are variously drawn upon.