Safe, Comfortable, Effective: Victim Support NI client feedback shows high satisfaction with the Remote Evidence Centre
Victim Support NI recently published client feedback survey results, which show high levels of user satisfaction with the experience of giving evidence at the Remote Evidence Centre (REC), which was established with the intention of providing a safe and secure place for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give evidence away from the main court building.
The Victim Support NI survey results were gathered from 124 users of the Remote Evidence Centre, 44.4% of whom had their cases heard at Magistrates’ Court. 30.6% were heard at Crown Court, with the remainder divided between specialist domestic violence courts, the appeal court or cases in which the witness was not aware of the court allocation.
The majority of cases reported in the survey were categorised as sexual offences (30.6%), with common assault (17.7%) and non-fatal strangulation (13.7%) also prevalent.
Client feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 100% found the REC comfortable with clear sight and sound of the court.
Over 95% felt safe, at ease, and satisfied with the REC location and more than 85% found support from Victim Support NI or the NSPCC Young Witness Service extremely helpful.
Over 95% of respondents also expressed high overall satisfaction and said they would recommend the facility to family or friends who had to give evidence.
“I couldn’t possibly have faced going to court—if it wasn’t for the REC, I wouldn’t have turned up.”
“I was heard but I wasn’t seen by him… had I known about this place beforehand I probably would have reported sooner.”
Victim Support NI Recieves £10,000 Community Cashback Award from SPAR NI
Over the summer months we were delighted to receive a . This money will be used to purchase personal safety items that our clients have told us they need. We are grateful to SPAR NI and everyone in the Henderson Group for this donation to our support services.
Victim Support NI Submits Their Response to the New Victims and Witnesses of Crime Strategy 2025–2030
In July Victim Support NI submitted their response to The Department of Justice public consultation on the new Victims and Witnesses of Crime Strategy 2025–2030. Our Policy & Communications Manager Lucy Fitzgerald has been very busy with consultation responses this year, also submitting responses on the subjects of Child Sentencing and Sentencing Reduction for Guilty Pleas in recent months. You can read our submissions here: Campaigns and Research – Victim Support NI
Victim Support NI to Publish New Corporate Strategy Before the End of 2025
Looking forward, we will publish our new corporate strategy before the end of 2025, which will equip the organisation with the foundational objectives to help us move forward as a responsive and trauma-informed organisation which prioritises the rights, needs, and recovery of victims and witnesses affected by crime.
The Hate Crime Advocacy Service has big plans for National Hate Crime Awareness Week which takes place from October 11–18, 2025. The week aims to raise awareness about hate crime and encourage action to combat it across the UK and this year we are planning a ‘Don’t Hate Debate’ event in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast’s Literary & Scientific Society, one of the oldest debating societies in the UK. Held at the Crescent Arts Centre in the bustling university quarter, this event will have input from leaders in the hate crime sector in NI and is backed by the Belfast Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and the Committee on the Administration of Justice.
