Bedfordshire’s victim care service – Signpost – has a new name
The victim care service run by the Office Of The Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has a new name – it has now changed to Bedfordshire Victim Care Services.
Previously known as Signpost since April 2018, this is Bedfordshire’s dedicated victim care support service provided by Bedfordshire Police. They support anyone who has been affected by crime, whether it has been reported to the police or not.
Bedfordshire Victim Care Services office at Bedfordshire Police Headquarters hosts a team of 11 specialist victim care coordinators, who provide emotional and practical support for victims and receive referrals from police officers who are directly dealing with victims.
Simon Powell, head of Victim Services, said: “Feedback tells us that Signpost isn’t always easy for people to find, so we’ve made this change to essentially represent what the service does. We provide a care service for victims, so I think that this name fits the bill perfectly.
“The Signpost team and OPCC chose the final design and we’re looking forward to rolling this out with the aim of being even more accessible for victims and partners while still keeping our aim of putting victims at the core of everything we do and helping them to move forward with their life after crime.
“I’m proud of what Signpost has achieved in the last 3½ years. I’m really looking forward to continuing the success of the service and I want to thank officers and partners for their sustained support.”
Under the new name, the service will still provide the same excellent service and care for victims of crime. It’s the one-stop-shop for everything a victim of crime needs to know, offering practical and emotional support, restorative justice, and referrals to specialist support.
Gill Richardson, a Victim Care Coordinator, said: “Bedfordshire Victim Care Services is a name that will immediately inform people affected by crime that we provide a dedicated and caring support service for people who live in Bedfordshire. We will continue to provide specialist help to support people to cope and recover to the point where they feel they are back on track with their lives. Our new name will hopefully become renowned for providing a first class service to the people of Bedfordshire.”
New contact details
Website: www.bedfordshirevcs.com
Email: info@bedfordshirevcs.com
Twitter: @BedfordshireVCS
