Press release

Clarke announces additional funding to help victims of homicide

Ken Clarke has announced an additional 拢500,000 to help victims of homicide, following the publication of the Victims Commissioner's report.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The extra money will be used to increase the number of professional caseworkers in the Homicide Service, to strengthen the role of befriending and peer support services and to provide better training for those working with people bereaved by homicide.

Louise Casey鈥檚 review into the needs of families bereaved by homicide, was commissioned by the Justice Secretary to help understand the needs of this vulnerable group. It was undertaken over a six-month period and has drawn on the experiences of over 400 bereaved families.

The report鈥檚 findings will play a critical role in informing the Government鈥檚 approach to supporting victims: to ensure that our time, money and best efforts are targeted at those in greatest need.

Secretary of State Kenneth Clarke said: 鈥榃e can never make things right for families bereaved through crime and it would be foolish to pretend that any level of support could ever achieve this. But we can do more to ensure that families get the help they need and that the practical impacts of bereavement are minimised. That is why I am making an additional 拢500,000 available this year to increase the number of professional caseworkers in the Homicide Service and to provide better training for those working with people bereaved by homicide.

鈥楾his is in addition to 拢2.25 million being invested in the Homicide Service and in specialist, voluntary organisations which provide bereaved families with a dedicated caseworker, emotional support and practical help to cope with housing, benefits and funeral arrangements.

鈥榃e are working on our review of all victim support arrangements - this will include consideration of victims鈥� services, entitlements and redress, designed to ensure that that our time, money and best efforts are targeted at those in greatest need. As part of this review, we have been in constant dialogue with the Victims鈥� Commissioner, victims and victim support organisations.鈥�

Updates to this page

Published 6 July 2011