Knowing rights as victims crucial to trust and confidence says PCC
The Ministry of Justice wants more people to know what they're entitled to if they're a victim of crime.
There's a push for people in Wiltshire to know what rights they have as a victim of crime.
The Ministry of Justice's "Understand Your Rights" campaign focusses on boosting awareness of the Victims Code, which sets out what we should expect while crimes are investigated.
They include the right to understand and be understood, to have access to the right support services and to make a complaint if needs aren't met.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon, Philip Wilkinson, says it's vital people know their rights to help build trust and confidence.
He said: "Tackling crime and reducing the number of victims is a partnership between the police and the public. It's how do we help the public and how do the public help us to help them.
"That is how we reduce crime and reduce the number of victims."
In his role as the PCC, it's Mr Wilkinson's job to hold Wiltshire Police to account and ensure that they are delivering the service they should and that the public deserve.
"The police should not mark their own homework," he said, adding that people with complaints can raise their concerns to him.
Worries over lack of awareness
Mr Wilkinson said he's concerned by figures that suggest one in five people are aware of the victims code.
"It's really important that the public know what their rights are, what they can expect and what they can do about it if the standard is not where they think it should be," he said
He stressed that our awareness of the rights we have during an investigation help improve policing, make it legitimate and ensures procedures are being followed.
The PCC said we should expect quick responses to 999 calls, with latest data from Wiltshire Police suggesting a call is now answered in under four seconds on average.
"Police must respond quickly, effectively and efficiently and in a reassuring manner. The public need to know when they come to us, we're going to do something effective and efficiently about it," he said, adding that "every crime matters" regardless of size.
Mr Wilkinson says the Wiltshire Force is improving on it's communication during investigations.
"What we have not been good at in the past is keeping the victim informed of the state of the investigation," he said. "We should continue to talk to the victim on a regular basis, keep them informed so they know what's happened and they're reassured, they've got trust and confidence through continual communication that we are taking it seriously."
How victims in Wiltshire are supported
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) funds several services that allow victims and witnesses to be supported while they're within the justice sector.
"It's my job to look after victims," Mr Wilkinson said.
His office provides a number of services and activities to support people who've suffered different crimes. One such service is Horizon, which helps victims and witnesses.
"We know because there are blockages and shortage of resources in the criminal justice sector that some serious crimes take a year before the case comes to court. We need to look after victims and witnesses through that," the PCC said.
Other services include Splash for young people while there are specialist services for people affected by drugs and alcohol or women and children who've been exploited.
We can find out more on how the OPCC supports victims here.