Victims and Witnesses of Crime Survey

New Victim & Witness Strategy 2025-2030

This survey is anonymous - your personal details will not be captured or saved when you complete the survey. By completing the survey you give us permission to use your answers in our response to the Call for Views for the new Victims and Witnesses Strategy 2025-2030. You can read our privacy and confidentiality policies on our website, which explain how we collect and store client information.

Focus Groups and 1:1 Interviews

We are planning to hold focus groups week commencing 18th-22nd November to gather the views of victims and witnesses of crime about their experiences of the criminal justice system. The feedback gathered will be anonymised. Each focus group will take approximately one hour, and we will reimburse participants for their travel expenses. The focus groups will be held at our Belfast Hub at Albany House or at another Northern Ireland location or online. If you would like to join a focus group or speak to someone about your experience in a longer-form interview, please email comms@victimsupportni.org.uk and we can arrange a convenient time to speak with you.

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* 1. What is your gender?

Male

Female

Prefer not to say

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What is your age group?

Under 18

18-34

35-50

51-65

Over 65

Prefer not to say

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* 3. In which county do you currently reside?

Antrim

Armagh

Down

Fermanagh

Derry/Londonderry

Tyrone

Prefer not to say

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* 4. Are you a victim or a witness of a crime that occurred in Northern Ireland?

Victim

Witness (i.e. you have been called or might be called to give evidence in criminal proceedings)

Both

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* 5. Did the crime occur within the last 12 months?

Yes

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* 6. Did you report the crime to the police?

Yes

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* 7. If not, what influenced your decision not to report the crime? Please tick all that apply.

I was worried about what would happen next.

I was worried about what the person who harmed me would do.

I was ashamed or embarrassed.

I did not believe that the Police would take it seriously.

I have experienced the criminal justice system before and did not want to go through it again.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Did your case go to court?

Yes

Withdrew before it reached court

Ongoing

Not sure

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* 9. If you decided to withdraw from the criminal justice process, what influenced your decision? Please tick all that apply.

The process was taking too long.

I needed to move on with my life and put the experience behind me.

I was nervous about going to court.

I was afraid of meeting the perpetrator.

I was ashamed or embarrassed and didn't want my experience to be shared publicly.

I have experienced the criminal justice system before and did not want to go through it again.

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Making a difference, thinking specifically about your experience...

What changes would you like to see made in the criminal justice system that would make it more comfortable for people to report a crime and stay engaged with the criminal justice process?

Free counselling.

A free general victim support helpline.

Having victim personal statements enshrined in law.

A form of remedy for victims when their victim charter rights are not met.

A financial victim support emergency assistance fund for those who are financially disadvantaged by crime and cannot afford to replace vital items and have no means of accessing funding from any other source.

An emotional or psychological support scheme for those who continue to experience trauma following conclusion of their case either by way of withdrawal or following a court case.

Other (please specify)

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* 11. How would you rate your engagement with the Police?

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* 12. How would you rate your engagement with the Public Prosecution Service?

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* 13. How would you rate your experience attending court?

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* 14. What type of emotional support do you think would have most helped you after the crime took place?

Emotional support i.e. a listening ear

Counselling support

Explanation of the stages of the criminal justice process

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What type of practical support do you think would have most helped you after the crime took place?

Criminal injuries compensation

Victim centred approach fund i.e. a financial victim support emergency assistance fund for those who are financially disadvantaged by crime and cannot afford to replace vital items and have no means of accessing funding from any other source.

Free access to court transcripts

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Overall, how well were your identified support needs met?

Very well met

Met

Reasonably well met

Not met at all

Not sure

Further comments

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* 17. Is there an alternative to the traditional court/trial process that might have helped you get justice/closure?

Restorative justice

Mediation

Compensation

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Thinking again of your own experience, how well do you think the criminal justice system deals with the needs of:

	Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Members of minority ethnic communities	Children and young people	People with a disability	Older people
Very well	Very well Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Very well Members of minority ethnic communities	Very well Children and young people	Very well People with a disability	Very well Older people
Well	Well Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Well Members of minority ethnic communities	Well Children and young people	Well People with a disability	Well Older people
Not very well	Not very well Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Not very well Members of minority ethnic communities	Not very well Children and young people	Not very well People with a disability	Not very well Older people
Not at all	Not at all Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Not at all Members of minority ethnic communities	Not at all Children and young people	Not at all People with a disability	Not at all Older people
Not sure	Not sure Members of the LGBTQIA+ community	Not sure Members of minority ethnic communities	Not sure Children and young people	Not sure People with a disability	Not sure Older people

Further comments

Victims and Witnesses of Crime Survey

New Victim & Witness Strategy 2025-2030

Question Title

* 1. What is your gender?

Question Title

* 2. What is your age group?

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* 3. In which county do you currently reside?

Question Title

* 4. Are you a victim or a witness of a crime that occurred in Northern Ireland?

Question Title

* 5. Did the crime occur within the last 12 months?

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* 6. Did you report the crime to the police?

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* 7. If not, what influenced your decision not to report the crime? Please tick all that apply.

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* 8. Did your case go to court?

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* 9. If you decided to withdraw from the criminal justice process, what influenced your decision? Please tick all that apply.

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* 10. Making a difference, thinking specifically about your experience...What changes would you like to see made in the criminal justice system that would make it more comfortable for people to report a crime and stay engaged with the criminal justice process?

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* 11. How would you rate your engagement with the Police?

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* 12. How would you rate your engagement with the Public Prosecution Service?

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* 13. How would you rate your experience attending court?

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* 14. What type of emotional support do you think would have most helped you after the crime took place?

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* 15. What type of practical support do you think would have most helped you after the crime took place?

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* 16. Overall, how well were your identified support needs met?

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* 17. Is there an alternative to the traditional court/trial process that might have helped you get justice/closure?

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* 18. Thinking again of your own experience, how well do you think the criminal justice system deals with the needs of:

* 10. Making a difference, thinking specifically about your experience...

What changes would you like to see made in the criminal justice system that would make it more comfortable for people to report a crime and stay engaged with the criminal justice process?