Page 5 - 20180424 - Minutes - TSAB V4 - PUBLIC

needed. FT added that the Victim and Witness Group is now well established in
Cleveland and Durham.

 AW queried the Criminal Justice Board’s objectives in relation to the victim’s
voice. FT identified that ‘ensuring the victim’s voice is heard’ is a shared priority
for both Boards, and that working together to achieve this would enable both
Boards to benefit from respective existing partnerships. FT suggested that the
key to achieving this may be the sharing of information about ongoing work
streams and through having partnership representation at relevant partnerships
and associated subgroups. The Criminal Justice Board carry out an assessment
of need to support an individual through the court process which would include
ensuring that pathways are in place to provide access to intermediaries.
Currently there are ten intermediaries working across the North East and
Cumbria.

 In the Criminal Justice system an individual would be classed as a victim from
the point of 999 call, irrespective of the outcome.

 A similar presentation has been shared at the Safer Stockton Partnership. Cllr.
Jim Beall (JB) advised that it has been challenging to understand the interface,
and would be interested to see how it works in practice. At this point it may be
more of an information sharing process, and care will need to be taken so that
work is not duplicated.

 Ann Powell (AP) is a member of both the Criminal Justice Board and TSAB so
is able to provide cross representation between the two boards.

 Mike Milen (MM) voiced a concern on behalf of the Voluntary Sector that a
number of users have reported problems when accessing the Victim Care &
Advice Service (VCAS). FT responded that as the commissioner of these
services they would like to receive this feedback and advised that scrutiny and
root cause analysis groups are in place to consider large scale issues. The
Police Crime Commissioner is head of the Criminal Justice Board and it was
suggested that any issues can be escalated through TSAB if required.

AB thanked FT for her presentation and asked Board members to consider how
opportunities for working with the Criminal Justice Board can be maximised and
any challenges overcome. It was agreed that:

 Information can be shared both ways, with AP providing a link between the two
Boards
 FT is now aware of the issues regarding the CPS, and will involve ES and BP
in work relating to this
 The relationship between the two Boards can be reviewed in 6 months’ time to
identify any issues that have been addressed and what has been learned from
the work.
Action Points Action Owner Deadline
1. AP to provide a link between TSAB and the Criminal Justice AP Ongoing
Board
2. Business Unit to provide FT with ES and BP contact details Business Unit 10/05/2018
3. FT to include ES and BP in work relating to the CPS FT 01/11/2018
4. Work with the Criminal Justice Board to be reviewed in 6 TSAB 01/11/2018
months’ time

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