We are pleased to announce that Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime, Geraldine Hanna, has launched a survey aimed at understanding the experiences of victims within the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

Access the Survey

The survey is designed to collect valuable insights into victims' encounters with the criminal justice system. By participating in this survey, you can contribute to identifying systemic issues that need attention from relevant criminal justice organizations.

Commissioner Hanna emphasised the importance of hearing directly from victims: "One of my main roles is to advise our government and criminal justice organisations on what victims think and what changes are needed to improve the system. To achieve this, it is vital that we hear directly from victims themselves."

Criminal cases in Northern Ireland often take a considerable amount of time to reach the courts. Therefore, the Commissioner encourages anyone who has been a victim of crime or has reported a crime to the police since 2018 to participate. The feedback received will help shape the priorities of the Commissioner's office, and the survey is planned to be conducted annually to track changes in victims' experiences.

It's important to note that the survey is completely anonymous, ensuring that your identity will not be disclosed through the survey findings.

Commissioner Hanna also emphasised inclusivity: "We are eager to hear from any victim who wishes to complete this survey, including parents or caregivers of child victims. If you are supporting someone who has been a victim and they are unable to respond due to language barriers, age, lack of internet access, or other challenges, please feel free to complete the survey on their behalf."

We kindly request that you share this survey with individuals who may be interested in participating.

If you require the survey in a different format or need assistance to complete it over the telephone, please reach out to the Commission for Victims of Crime office at [email protected] or call us at 028 9052 6607.

Participants in the survey can choose to stop participation at any point if they wish.

For victims in need of support to cope with the impact of the crime they are responding to, please consider contacting one of the support services available. You can find more information about these services [here](https://www.cvocni.org/useful-organisations).

Your input is valuable, and together, we can work towards a more supportive and responsive criminal justice system for victims. Thank you for having your say in this important endeavor.