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# Deputy Police Commissioner warns of “isolated” victims in the justice system
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/deputy-police-commissioner-warns-victims-are-isolated-in-the-justice-system/
- Published: 2013-07-18T08:30:26.000Z
- Updated: 2013-07-19T07:20:55.000Z
- Author: Lewis Deakin
- Tags: Crime, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:24, News

Victims are being left isolated within the justice system, according to Staffordshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Sue Arnold made her comments after plans were unveiled to join up a number of support services.

[![Sue Arnold](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/suearnold.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2013/05/25/police-commisioner-orders-review-to-ensure-victims-dont-become-crime-statistics/suearnold-3/)

Sue Arnold

The move follows confirmation that the funding for victim support services will be allocated to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner from next April.

“Victims are often left very confused within the system,” said the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, who is also a Lichfield District Councillor. “They do not know which route to take and if they are lucky enough they may get a call on behalf of Staffordshire Police from Victim Support, which is run from a regional hub in Birmingham.

“However, they do not deal with special services. For example a victim of a sexual offence could 29 different agencies come up.

“The victim has to have confidence that the people dealing with their case are going to be with them from start to finish.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis has agreed to continue a role that brings criminals face to face with their victims.

A neighbourhood Justice Panel Coordinator for Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent will now be funded for another year.

And Deputy Commissioner Arnold believes these latest reforms will further empower the victims of crime.

“These reforms will mean that victims have one point of contact,” she explained. “Fifty of the people who run these services will be at a meeting where I will reveal to them our plans to join these services together.”

The Deputy Commissioner also vowed to fight to ensure victims are taken seriously within the criminal justice system.

She said: “Not enough victim support statements are being taken. They allow Judges and Magistrates to take into account how the victim of a crime feels.

“I believe everyone should be provided with a victim support statement.”