A CHARITY which offers guidance and support for victims of crime today launched a campaign for better services in the wake of a damaging new report.

Members of Victim Support Lancashire, which has branches in Burnley, Clitheroe and Pendle, called for greater services and support for all victims of crime.

Despite 25 years of improvements in the criminal justice system, the wider needs of victims were still widely ignored, said local manager Gordon Coyle,s referring to a new report.

The report calls for policy makers across all areas of government and social provision to recognise and provide for the needs of crime victims.

Nationally, Victim Support provides help to over one million victims a year but says that far too many still get no official help.

The report focuses on three examples, housing, healthcare and financial support.

The charity says that 96 per cent of all victimsreceive no help other than the services of Victim Support, which receives less than one per cent of total public spending on law and order.

The local service provides help for people who have to attend court to give evidence.

Mr Coyles gave examples of local help which had been given. One case involved a man injured in an asault.

He said: "It was the shock of the assault that bothered him most of all. His reactions were quite intense and frightening to him. The member of staff was able to reassure him that his reactions were normal and to give him advice and information about court procedures, compensation and so on. Afterwards he said he he felt so much better and realised he wasn't going mad after all."

The charity also took up the case of a pensioner who was robbed in her own home and who was even more upset because the insurance company had refused to settle the claim.

Victim Support wrote to the company on her behalf and were successful in getting them to think again and pay out.

In other cases victims have been provided with personal attack alarms.

Mr Coyles said the charity was calling for a commissioner for victims of crime and protected rights in legislation.

Victims' needs that were overlooked included failure to train medical staff about additional support and information of patients whose injuries resulted from crime; little or no priority given to people who need to be rehoused ; no provision to ensure that landlords provide secure and safe accommodation and lack of measures to help make insurance affordable for those on low income.

The local branch recently gained the prestigious Investors In People award. Victim Support Lancashire has only been going for 18 months and has already been acknowledged for its commitment to staff development.

The Burnley, Clitheroe and Pendle branch is currently looking for volunteers. Contact Gordon Coyles on 01282 455955.