Officium - domestic violence, support for abuse victims, criminal justice, support for victims of violent crimes, crime victim rights, crime victim advocacy, criminal injury compensation, personal injury, victim support

domestic violence, support for abuse victims, criminal justice, support for victims of violent crimes, crime victim rights, crime victim advocacy, criminal injury compensation, personal injury, victim supportMy handbook aims to direct people affected by violent crime to all that is best and known from my research and experience. It encourages people to strive to be assertive and not trapped and typecast living as permanent ‘victims’. domestic violence, support for abuse victims, criminal justice, support for victims of violent crimes, crime victim rights, crime victim advocacy, criminal injury compensation, personal injury, victim support It covers matters like trauma, death, disability, the media, the police, going to court and services. It explains how to confidently seek help and if necessary how to pursue a formal complaint. This handbook will be periodically revised to remain up to date with policy, legal and community changes and to include or exclude agencies. It explains the complex, expensive, often degrading and drawn-out CICA compensation process combining easy references and directory listings for selecting the best experts of trauma specialists and solicitors across England, Scotland and Wales. It has three main areas 1) the personal survivor needs, 2) the complex legal CICA process and compensation issues and 3) social / government policy, why, as a wealthy nation we treat victims as we do, and suggest community and national empowerment proposals for the future like setting-up small and regional groups. This handbook aims to break and confront the anguished silent isolation a survivor of violent crime is often placed in by institutions, and an ambivalent society. An inclusive guide has never been achieved before. Others have written with a minimal cluster of précised points and telephone numbers, or a detached often academic perspective, or kept the obvious and common sense parts of a person’s life fragmented - never treating a person as a whole. Instead, referring to people’s needs like shattered glass keeping inter-connected parts of a person’s life isolated. This handbook weaves current political, policy and social issues affecting us all as citizens - especially people affected by violent crime. It is about the important obvious common sense matters people need to know that makes this handbook inclusive. This is a small contribution to the huge struggle for justice domestic violence, support for abuse victims, criminal justice, support for victims of violent crimes, crime victim rights, crime victim advocacy, criminal injury compensation, personal injury, victim supportdomestic violence, support for abuse victims, criminal justice, support for victims of violent crimes, crime victim rights, crime victim advocacy, criminal injury compensation, personal injury, victim support

There have been occasions when the media have acted dynamically and constructively by championing cases of injustice. It would be wonderful if they did this more as well as making connections about the lack of provisions for those affected by violent crime. However, generally the media thrive on criminal horror and it is too often presented as if it were a form of television drama instead of factual, dignified, serious and measured reporting. This degrades the people affected and creates an unpleasant and voyeuristic perspective that sensationalises a violent criminal act. It also de-sensitises us as a nation from horror because often real-life violence becomes blurred with entertainment. As the media tries to capture every nuance of despair as entertainment-style reporting, the victim’s own private and personal tragedy is unfolding, a situation deserving dignity and not exploitation.

The media could do so much more good in raising the issues of violence in society and the daily impact on and needs of victims. This would ensure the needs of people receive the prominent political attention they deserve. The media too often fails to produce sustained features that seriously raise public debate and lay the constructive views of people at the doors of the powers of government. The media could assist vulnerable groups in many constructive ways rather than sometimes cheapening, and adding a further dimension to, private tragedies.

If a recent private incident has taken place and the media want attention

It is not advisable to make public what is, in reality, your private and emerging agony. The media should be dealt with very carefully, for although they can play a useful role, you must discuss with a lawyer and the police what you can say and what you should not. This is because it may have a negative effect on police investigations and the potential for a successful prosecution. We have witnessed how the media has affected several publicised court cases. This author strongly urges people not to use the media as a source of attention and to remember that your personal tragedy is only today’s news.

It may be better to have the police or a solicitor read written statements and, for your privacy, it is best to try to make yourself invisible and refuse photographs.

When you engage with the media, you will lose all privacy and this will affect how well you are able to re-build your life and the lives of those around you who are important and have also been affected. The British media generally does not respect the grief of people and those about you can often find themselves forever beholden to them - with or without consent.

Please refer to the section in my handbook about dealing with the media