If you report a crime, the police may pass your personal details onto us – however you don’t have to report an incident to contact us, and it doesn’t matter when the offence took place, there is always someone to talk to.
Wigan Witness Service helps
- witnesses who are called to give evidence, including defence witnesses
- victims of crime and their families and friends attending court for any reason
- children as well as adults.
Witness Service staff and volunteers can give you
- someone to talk to in confidence
- a chance to see the court beforehand and learn about court procedures
- a quiet place to wait
- someone to go with you into the court room when giving evidence
- practical help (for example with expense forms)
- easier access to people who can answer specific questions about the case (the Witness Service cannot discuss evidence or offer legal advice)
- a chance to talk over the case when it has ended and to get more help or information.
Help for young people: are you ok?
Victim Support has a website to help young people who have been the victim of a crime. The Are you ok? website features advice and details of how to get help, and information on crimes including burglary and domestic violence. It has sections on: If you’re a victim, If you’re a witness, Crimes, True Stories, Ask Sam, Did you know..., The youth advisory panel, and useful Links. There are games and activities. There is also an education resource pack for teachers.
Visit the Are you ok? website at www.are-you-ok.org.uk (external link)
Local Projects
In the Wigan borough we have been lucky enough this year to be given funding from numerous agencies to help us run several projects. We have several key projects running at the moment. Two of which are the Grassroots and the Partnerships for Older People Project (POPP’s).
Grassroots
Grassroots has been in operation for several years now and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The ‘Grassroots’ project is for people over the age of 60 and is aimed at increasing the awareness of bogus callers and reducing the number of victims affected by such crimes.
We can provide residents of the Wigan and Leigh Borough with FREE practical tools to enable them to answer the door to unknown callers with confidence and security.
We can provide door chains and guards, mirrors, memo minders, vibration alarms and personal attack alarms. Three members of our staff run the project, Fran, Joe and Caran, they are regularly seen in the community – whether fitting the devices or giving presentations on crime reduction.
POPP’s
Our over 50’s service began in May 2006 with the funding, from the Partnerships for Older People Project (POPP’s), scheduled until May 2008. This project fills a gap in services that could originally only be offered to people over 60. People over 50, experiencing changes in their lives or feeling particularly vulnerable can now access a whole host of services including the ‘Stop and Lock’ Service. We have the facilities to increase the security of approx 800 houses per year!! This includes upgrading, replacing and adding new locks to your windows and doors as well as providing other devices that can be used to prevent burglary and bogus callers. All these services are provided FREE OF CHARGE - by us!! As well as these services the POPP’s team - Joe the joiner and project co-ordinator Caran - can also advise householders of the best ways to protect their property.
For more information visit the POPPS website (External link)
VIPS
The Victim Support Premium Service is funded by the Community Safety Team and began in December 2006. As well as being able to provide security upgrades to properties for people living in deprived areas, we aim to make telephone contact with an increased number of victims throughout the borough. The aim is to provide them with reassurance as well as recruiting more volunteers to help with our essential work.
Through recruiting volunteers we hope to promote and encourage stronger communities – but we can’t do this with out YOU!
If you’d like to get involved please give us a call on 01942 322033!
BSC
The Building Safer Communities project is also funded by the Community Safety Partnership and has been established for several years now. After someone has been a victim of a burglary in the Wigan and Leigh Borough we follow the incident up with a telephone call to offer emotional support. After establishing what the security is like at the person's property we offer them free security upgrades to their property.
This project is also involved in ’target hardening’ – measures to reduce the risk of crime, for example fitting better locks and giving advice on home safety. Through analysing crime statistics and targeting ‘hot spot’ areas, together with the police and the Community Safety Partnership we have reduced burglary in Leigh by a Massive 48%.
