The process of criminal justice for your loved one is likely to be complex and slow. It may be that your loved one does not want to involve the police or that deciding to report a crime is not immediate. For others, there is almost no choice and they are swept into the world of investigations and interviews with great speed and seemingly no priority for the feelings or understanding of those most deeply affected.

For parents and carers of children, the process can be very traumatising, especially if they are initially under suspicion. Children rarely disclose everything in one go – often offering information slowly, saving the ‘worst’ until they feel safe enough to reveal the most difficult details – and that can include the name of the perpetrator.

For adult victims of sexual crimes, there is often insight into the impact their allegations will have on family, friends and their own life. Media reports of the traumatising impact of reporting sexual crimes, the revictimisation through the court process, and the real fear that their lifestyle may be used in evidence against them, make reporting sexual crimes incredibly difficult.

People who are subject to violent crimes may find that the process of criminal justice rolls into action with seemingly little thought for their feelings. They may feel dehumanised by the process and the lack of control or decision-making can lead to the victim feeling that they are a very unimportant part of the process of gaining a conviction.

There is no statutory requirement for the CPS or the police to provide any support to 3rd party victims of crime, except in the case of murder.

She didn’t say who it was – but she DID say who it wasn’t. That meant that me, my son and my husband were ruled out, almost immediately. I think people should know that if a child is left in a family home, you can guarantee that they have been checked out by just about everyone you can imagine – police, social services, doctors – the lot. It would have been nice if neighbours and friends hadn’t assumed it was something we’d done – or not done.

Ruth, A Mum

The booklets below contain detailed information from the Crown Prosecution Service for victims

Something keeping you up at night?

You aren’t alone. You may find more information in our section: “The Tough Stuff” – things no-one talks about

Disclosure

Disclosure is the process during which a victim of a sexual or violent crime, tells someone else about what has happened to them. Rarely do people tell everything, immediately to the person closest to them. Shame, fear and threats from the perpetrator plus an insight into the impact their disclosure will have on those closest to them make telling someone incredibly difficult.

It’s common for victims to try out a small piece of information to see what kind of reaction they get. For 3rd party victims of crime this can mean that they are aware something dreadful has happened but not what or who. It’s inevitable that imaginations run wild and it is incredibly distressing for 3rd party victims of crime.

We were told – quite clearly – don’t push it, don’t try and get more information or she’ll clam up and never say anything more. We understood that – but at the same time, that meant that we knew someone had sexually abused our daughter, but didn’t know who it was. It could have been any of our neighbours and we had no idea which one. We trusted no-one.

Whilst some victims are able to talk to those closest to them, sometimes information is disclosed to someone who is not particularly close to the victim – a teacher, a distant relative or a friend they don’t see that often because they want to tell but don’t want to cause hurt or harm to those closest to them.

It was embarrassing and hurtful and distressing to know that other people knew things about my family that I didn’t. That sounds selfish and I was glad she told someone but I didn’t understand why she didn’t tell me – and I wondered if there was something wrong with our relationship.

The reactions and actions of others to these initial attempts at disclosure may lead the victim to retract what they’ve said, refuse to say more or eventually offer more information.

We felt completely powerless. We knew we couldn’t push for more details but at the same time couldn’t do anything to help. We couldn’t stop the self-harm or the aggression. And at the same time, until she said more, we were also under suspicion.

There is more information from the NSPCC about what to do if a child discloses abuse on this page.

This information from The Survivor Pathway suggests how to support an adult disclosing sexual assault as an adult or historic sexual abuse.

If you are supporting a friend who is living with domestic violence or has suffered other forms of violence, the information from Refuge may be of use.

Reporting a crime

The police have strict protocols and standards that they must follow when they are dealing with crimes of sexual violence and domestic violence. Specially trained officers and interviewers work with victims to gather the best evidence. Their priority is always to secure a conviction but they should either signpost or arrange for victims to receive support from outside agencies.

If you are reporting a sexual crime involving children, then this information from Citizen’s Advice explains what you can expect.

If the police are involved in Domestic Abuse crimes, this explanation of the procedure from Women’s Aid may help.

There is a great deal of detailed information about the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the way they work on their website.

What is 'justice'?

Justice means different things to different people but the fundamental purpose of criminal justice is to investigate, detect, charge or release, try, convict or acquit, sentence and rehabilitate on behalf of society. The defendant is assumed to be innocent until proved guilty and the complainant (the term vicitm suggests pre-judgement of guilt of the defendent) is an important witness with evidence but it isn’t who the courts work for.

Thinking dispassionately about it – which is incredibly difficult if not impossible to do when a loved one has suffered a sexual or serious violent crime – none of us would reasonably want someone to be sent to prison if they had not committed a crime. At the same time, 3rd party victims of crime are advised that one of the most important things that they can do is to be believe their loved one and to repeat this often.

Coming into the criminal justice system and being confronted with people who use different language (complainant not victim) is traumatic. Vicitms of crime can start to think that they are not believed or that there is something wrong or weak with their evidence.

Tips and helpful suggestions:

  • Make sure that your loved one understands the reasons for the use of different words and it’s nothing to do with their credibility or believability. It’s to ensure that justice is done.
  • Help victims of crime by ensuring that they understand there are strct rules about making sure that only guilty people are convicted and that when this isn’t done carefully, the wrong people are sent to prison. You can of course reitereate that you don’t believe that will happen in this case but that it has happened before and so every trial or criminal process is carried out in exactly the same way to make sure it’s as safe as can be.
  • Be clear that legal professionals will do their best to make things as least damaging that they can be but that isn’t their job.
  • Ensure that other people around your loved one understand what will happen and the words that are used so your loved one doesn’t get any misinformation from them.
  • If a case is dropped – it isn’t because the police or lawyers don’t believe your loved one – it’s because in almost every case there has to be a 51% likelihood of a conviction and the smallest detail can make it appear that it might not happen (for example, not being able to get good scientific evidence or the crime happening a long time ago.)
  • Maintaining this attitude of ‘testing the evidence’ and the process of criminal justice being about society and not about the victim can be extremely useful if a perpetrator is found not guilty. This can be devastating for the vicitm. Reminding the victim that the process of criminal justice is about proving and testing that evidence will make it less about them and so a little easier to deal with an acquittal: the Crown was unable to prove the case is a far more accurate and less damaging reflection of an acquittal than ‘they didn’t believe it happened.’

Making a complaint about the way a crime has been handled

If you aren’t happy with the way the crime has been investigated, then contact your local police force and ask about their complaints procedure

If your concern is around the Crown Prosecution Service and their decision to prosecute, then victims have a right to review

Ultimately all complaints about the Police are dealt with by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC – previously the IPCC)

If you want to complain about the Crown Prosecution Service there is information on their website.

The information on this page of our website explains why people don’t complain… and why they should if they are unhappy with a service they’ve received.