PCC John Campion has sent an open letter to Shabana Mahmood KC MP, Justice Secretary, regarding funding challenges facing victim services in West Mercia.
Read the letter below –
Dear Shabana Mahmood KC MP,
RE: Funding challenges facing victim services in West Mercia
As Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, I am committed to ensuring victims and witnesses get the support they need, when they need it, whether they have reported to the police or not.
Across the three counties, I am proud of the wide range of services available to victims and witnesses, delivering high-quality support to the most vulnerable in our society when they need it most.
Whilst I am clear that further progress must be made to continuously develop and enhance our offer to victims, this is challenging without clarity from the government on its funding position and whether key funding streams will continue.
My total commissioning budget is approximately £15million, made up of core funding and additional investment following successful grant bids. However, the lack of clarity on what the funding position will be is causing avoidable challenges.
Impacting commissioning across the country, some PCCs have made the decision to extend major statutory contracts, without going back out to the market.
In West Mercia, we are following best practice and recommissioning four statutory contracts but without details on what funding will be available from 2025/26 and beyond, it’s causing unnecessary uncertainty for smaller non-statutory providers.
Small providers play a big part in work to support victims and witnesses.
With the current situation they are worried about their sustainability. Instability is meaning they are currently in limbo, unsure on whether funding I provide, and some rely on, will be made available again.
My office has a strong track-record of securing additional investment from government funding streams.
Over the past eight years successful bids have delivered millions of pounds in Safer Streets funding helping to reduce crime in local communities, the first-ever all-risk domestic abuse perpetrator programme, a life-changing initiative at Willowdene helping women to choose a path away from crime, and more.
I know you would share my concern caused by the lack of certainty. I would be grateful if you can ensure these streams continue and are backed with additional resources, as failure to do so, will mean work to intervene and prevent crime, reducing the number of victims, will be seriously damaged in West Mercia.
Yours sincerely,
John Campion
Police and Crime Commissioner
West Mercia
