PROPERTY CONTACTS

If you have been requested to retain any All Criminal Justice Agencies are committed to property as evidence in the case please putting the victim at the centre of the system. ensure you retain it for a further 28 days after If you are not satisfied with the service you sentence in case an appeal is lodged. have received please contact the appropriate agency below: If the police are holding any of your property please contact them on 01202 222222 and POLICE ask to speak to the officer dealing with the Dorset Police Force Headquarters case to arrange for it to be returned. Dorchester DT2 8DZ INFORMATION FOR www.dorset.police.uk USEFUL NUMBERS Tel: 01202 223808 / 01305 223808 VICTIMS VICTIM SUPPORT DORSET E-mail: [email protected] Unit A19 Arena Business Centre or visit your local police station Holyrood Close, BH17 7FJ ______One Team, One Vision – Tel: 01202 606200 Fax: 01202 606201 CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE Committed to A Safer E-mail: [email protected] CPS Dorset Oxford House Dorset for You POLICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNITS Oxford Road : 01202 222046 Bournemouth BH8 8HA : 01202 226253 www.cps.gov.uk/dorset Poole: 01202 223362 To Make Dorset Safer Weymouth: 01305 226547 Tel: 01202 498700 E-mail: [email protected] DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE: ______

0808 2000247 SERVICE To Make Dorset Feel Safer HER MAJESTY’S COURTS CHILDLINE NATIONAL HELPLINE: 0800 1111 (Covers Magistrates’ and Crown Courts) The Law Courts NSPCC HELPLINE: 0808 8005000 Park Road

Poole BH15 2RH RAPE CRISIS: 01202 547445 www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk This leaflet is designed to help MANKIND UK HELPLINE: Tel: 01202 745309 explain some of the issues that most ______Tel: 01273510447 (Males only) concern victims when a case is www.mankinduk.co.uk PROBATION SERVICE concluded at court. It does not cover

7 Madeira Road, all the legal issues involved and if LESBIAN AND GAY LIAISON OFFICER: Bournemouth BH1 1QL Tel: 01202 269911 (for homophobic crime) www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk you need further information please E-mail: [email protected] contact the agency involved. Tel: 01202 228000 ______DORSET RACE EQUALITY COUNCIL: Tel: 01202 553003 E-mail: [email protected] COMPENSATION SAFETY CONCERNS APPEALS

Compensation is awarded by the Courts, for In cases where an offender is given a life Defence Appeals – The defence can any loss, injuries or damage you have sentence, or in serious sexual or violent appeal against the conviction and/or the suffered. However, in cases where the offences where the offender has been sentence to a higher court. In some appeals defendant receives a custodial sentence, it is sentenced to at least 1 year in prison, the against conviction a re-trial may be ordered, unlikely that compensation will be awarded. Probation Service will contact you within two and you may have to give evidence again. If The Magistrates or Judge will decide whether months of the sentence being passed to ask this is needed the Witness Care Unit will or not to order compensation. It is solely at you if you want to be notified later when the inform you. Appeals against sentence can their discretion. time is reached for the offender to be reduce or increase the original sentence. released. They will explain to you what The defendant will have to pay any happens during the sentence, and how Prosecution Appeals – In some serious compensation before any fines, but decisions are reached about releasing the Crown Court cases where the sentence is compensation is limited to what the defendant prisoner. deemed unduly lenient the Attorney General can reasonably afford and is often paid in can refer the case to the Court of Appeal. If instalments. If you are worried about unwanted contact you feel a sentence is unduly lenient please from a prisoner, please call the Prison discuss this with the Crown Prosecution If the compensation is not paid the Courts will Service Victim Helpline on 0845 7585 112. Service (see contact details). take steps to enforce payment. In some cases Helpline staff will pass on details of your call to this can lead to the defendant being sent to the prison governor, who will then investigate prison and the compensation order being and decide what action to take. This may WITNESS EXPENSES ‘written off’. involve monitoring a prisoner’s correspondence and phone calls. If, following the submission of a claim form, If you have any queries regarding you have any queries regarding the payment compensation awarded by the courts, Following this if you are still worried about of your expenses for attending court please phone the Court on 01202 745309. your safety contact the police on 01202 / contact: Crown Prosecution Service National 01305 222222, in an emergency dial 999. Finance (Witness), 4-5 South Parade, If you have been injured as a result of a Wakefield, WF1 1LR. Tel: 01924 205261. violent crime you may be able to get compensation regardless of whether the ROAD TRAFFIC OFFENCES offender has been caught or found guilty CIVIL ACTION under the Criminal Injuries Compensation The Criminal Court may only award Scheme. For more information, contact: compensation if the defendant was not insured Civil claims are dealt with by the County Court and it is not possible to claim from the Motor and can be in respect to a number of things. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Insurers Bureau (MIB). Even then the Courts are These may include damage to property or Authority, only able to award compensation up to £300. personal injury. Other issues could be faulty Tay House, goods, goods not supplied or bad 300 Bath Street, If you claim against your insurance company workmanship. Glasgow G2 4JR and lose your no claims bonus the Courts can

Tel: 0141 331 2726 consider awarding compensation to cover this. If you are thinking about pursuing civil action it is best to discuss this matter with a solicitor, or The Motor Insurers Bureau (Tel: 01908 830001) the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (for online advice may only pay compensation to victims of CICA Officer, visit www.adviceguide.org.uk), or a Consumer uninsured drivers and/or of hit and run accidents Bournemouth Divisional Headquarters, Advice Centre (Tel: 08454 04 05 06). (but not the first £300 of claims). Madeira Road, Bournemouth BH1 1QQ

Tel: 01202 222358 E-mail: [email protected]