Support provided by the NCA
In cases where we are investigating an alleged crime, if you’re a victim you will be assigned a Witness Care Officer.
The Witness Care Officer’s role is to make sure that your needs are considered and that you’re kept informed about important developments in the investigation.
We will also provide:
- Information about the investigation in clear and simple language
- Translation into another language if you don’t understand English
- Care and support based on an individual assessment of your needs
- Protection measures if we assess that you or your family are under threat
In England and Wales the services and support we and other criminal justice agencies must provide for victims are governed by the Victims' Code. For full details of victims’ entitlements, please visit the Victims information website.
In Scotland victims' rights are covered by the Victims’ Code for Scotland. In Northern Ireland the Victim Charter sets out how victims of crime should be treated and what advice, support and practical information they can expect to receive.
Although we are not a service provider under either the Victims’ Code for Scotland or the Victim Charter in Northern Ireland, we apply the spirit of both schemes to all our work with victims in those jurisdictions.
Complaints
We aim to provide the highest level of support to victims of crime. If you’re not satisfied with the support you have received please speak with your Witness Care Officer.
If your complaint cannot be resolved in this manner, you can also make a complaint by emailing public.complaints@nca.gov.uk.
Expertise in protecting victims and vulnerable people
Several teams within the NCA are dedicated to the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable people and victims of crime.
Victim Identification Team
The Victim Identification Team analyses indecent images of children that are found in the possession of offenders in order to identify, locate and protect child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. These are usually children who are under the active control of their abuser/s and without this activity would not be found or protected.
Child Protection Team
The Child Protection Team works to identify and protect victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Child Protection team receive reports directly from the public including children, young people, parents, carers and professionals about children who are being, or are at risk of being, sexually abused or exploited.
If you're concerned about a child at risk of sexual exploitation you can report your concerns directly to CEOP. The child protection team also work closely with CEOP’s operational teams to ensure the needs of vulnerable victims are prioritised within operational activity.
Specialist Witness Team
The Specialist Witness Team provides expert advice and operational support to Investigation teams and partner agencies on the management of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including their identification, categorisation, safeguarding and risk management for all NCA crime types, including modern slavery and child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Protected Persons Service
The UK Protected Persons Service provides protection to people judged to be at risk of serious harm. These may include witnesses, subjects of honour-based violence and people in some way helping with the investigation of serious crime.
National Vulnerable Witness Adviser
The National Vulnerable Witness Adviser regularly deploys to major crime investigations to assist in the development of interview and witness management strategies in cases that involve particularly challenging vulnerable or intimidated witnesses.
Additional support and resources
For additional support and resources, see our Additional support and resources page.
