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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Crime, justice and the law
    3. Victims and witnesses
    4. Help and support for victims

    Support services for victims

    If you have been a victim of crime or abuse in Northern Ireland, there are organisations and groups that can give you free advice and support to help you deal with the impact of a crime.

    Victims of crime

    Once you have reported a crime to the police, they'll ask if you wish your contact details to be passed to Victim Support NI. If so, they will make contact with you to see if they can help you.

    If you do not want your name passed on, you should tell the police officer dealing with your case.

    Getting support and advice

    If you want to contact Victim Support NI before you speak to the police, you can contact them directly:

    • telephone: 028 9024 3133 (during office hours)
    • telephoning the National Supportline 0845 30 30 900 (at any time)
    • contacting your local Victim Support NI office

    If you don't want to report the crime, Victim Support NI can help you cope with how the crime affects you. 

    When you contact them, a volunteer will give you information on what to expect, help you decide the type of support you need, and make sure you receive that help for as long as you need it. They can meet you at your local Victim Support NI office or somewhere suitable for you.

    You may want to contact Victim Support NI if you:

    • want to talk, in confidence, to someone who can help you
    • need information or practical help
    • want to make a claim for criminal injuries compensation
    • are going to court, either as an observer or as a witness

    The phone line is open:

    • Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

    Victim Support NI provides these services free.

    Victim Support NI also has information about other organisations offering help, such as counselling, and can give you contact details if you would find that helpful.

    • Victim Support NI

    Criminal justice organisations

    As a victim of crime you may find it helpful to speak to someone about your experience. There are different criminal justice organisations and general victim support services available.

    • Compensation Services
    • Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel for Northern Ireland
    • Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS)
    • Northern Ireland Prison Service
    • NSPCC Young Witness Service
    • Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
    • Police Service of Northern Ireland
    • Probation Board for Northern Ireland
    • Public Prosecution Service
    • Victim information schemes
    • Victim Information Unit
    • Victim Support NI
    • Victim and Witness Care Unit
    • Youth Justice Agency

    Domestic abuse and violence

    If you are living in an abusive relationship, and are worried about your safety and the safety of your child, you can get help.

    • Relate
    • Men's Advisory Project (MAP)
    • Women’s Aid Federation NI
    • 24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline
    • PSNI
    • Victim Support NI
    • Women’s Aid
    • Nexus NI
    • Men’s Action Network
    • The Rainbow Project
    • Cara-friend
    • HERe NI
    • Adult Protection Gateway teams

    • Victims of Crimes Commissioner

    To read more about help and support for people experiencing domestic violence and abuse, go to:

    • Domestic violence and abuse

    Hate crime

    The Hate Crime Advocacy Service supports victims of hate crime.

    • Hate Crime Advocacy Service

    To read more about hate crime, go to:

    • Hate crime

    Sexual violence and abuse

    If you, or someone you know, has been the victim of sexual violence or abuse you should seek help as soon as possible.  

    • Nexus NI
    • Rowan Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
    • 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Helpline
    • Domestic and sexual violence

    Bereavement support

    • Cruse Bereavement Care
    • Support after Murder and Manslaughter 
    • Brake

    Human Trafficking

    • Help and support for victims of human trafficking
    • Migrant Help
    • Modern Slavery Helpline
    • 24-Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Helpline
    • NSPCC Child trafficking advice centre

    Victims and survivors

    If you're a victim or survivor of the conflict in Northern Ireland, find out about services and support that could help you.

    • Victims and Survivors Service
    • Commission for Victims and Survivors

    Children and young people

    • NSPCC
    • Childline
    • Barnardo’s
    • Child Gateway teams

    Support for older people

    • Age NI
    • Hourglass NI

    Support for people with disabilities

    • Disability Action
    • Action on Hearing Loss

    Other support organisations

    • Barnardo’s Safe Choices
    • Belfast Migrant Centre
    • Crimestoppers
    • Disability Action
    • Historical institutional abuse
    • QueerSpace
    • Rainbow Project
    • Sure Start Service
    • Samaritans

    Making a complaint about a service

    If you are not satisfied with the service that you have received, speak to the person you have been dealing with at the organisation, if you feel comfortable doing so.  Ask them for details of their complaints procedure.

    If you're not satisfied with the response, you can contact an independent body and ask them to consider your complaint.

    • Making a complaint against government or public bodies
    • Complaints against the police
    • Make a complaint to the prison service
    • Making a complaint about a judge, magistrate or coroner

    More useful links

    • Age NI
    • Migrant Help
    • NSPCC
    • Law Society of Northern Ireland
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    Help and support for victims

    • Checking for a person's history of abuse
    • Domestic and sexual violence
    • Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs)
    • Help for people leaving prostitution
    • Help for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Help for vulnerable people giving evidence
    • Historical institutional abuse
    • Legal aid for victims of domestic abuse
    • Sexual violence and abuse
    • Sexual violence: directory of services
    • Still Abuse
    • Support services for victims
    • The Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime
    • The Rowan - Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
    • Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme
    • Violent offences prevention orders

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