Police victim protection

Victim protection and victim support are integral parts of police work in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Every police officer is informed about the principles of victim protection and victim support. Police dealings with victims of crime and accidents are based on three principles:

• Taking into account the exceptional situation in which victims of crime and traffic accidents may find themselves
• Providing adequate offers of help
• Information about victims' rights and the course of any subsequent proceedings.

The main task of police officers working in victim protection is to initiate and support networks at regional level with support facilities such as women's shelters, women's advice centers, the "Weißer Ring e.V.", drug counseling centers, churches and other institutions. Competent and effective cooperation has been established in many places at local and regional level, in which the care administration, the judiciary, specialist therapeutic advice centers and others are also involved.

All district police authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia deploy specially trained police officers for the tasks of police victim protection and the provision of victim support. These officers play a key role in the professional victim protection provided by the police: they are the contact persons for all questions relating to victim protection and victim support.

The best victim protection is targeted and effective crime prevention. Specially trained employees of the North Rhine-Westphalian police carry out proven prevention work. The police work together with important partners on a basis of trust in public order partnerships and crime prevention committees.

Protecting victims is a fundamental idea that all institutions and people should be made aware of and can make a contribution to taking the interests of victims even more strongly into account and asserting them. To promote this goal, the police work closely with victim support institutions and associations. The well-functioning cooperation between the police and the welfare administration makes a significant contribution to asserting the rights of victims after acts of violence. This also includes supporting victims with applications for benefits under the Victim Compensation Act. Victims of crime are given the information sheet "On the rights of injured and aggrieved parties in criminal proceedings" as soon as the report is made. If the complaint was not made in person, the information sheet will be sent with the summons to the witness hearing. In suitable cases, the victim of a criminal offense will also be made aware of the possibility of obtaining compensation or damages for pain and suffering during the criminal proceedings with the help of the adhesion procedure. For this purpose, the victim receives the "2 in 1" flyer, which contains a corresponding application form. If this option is used, costly and time-consuming civil proceedings are no longer necessary. If necessary, police officers specially trained in victim protection will assist the victim with the application process.

The police provide advice on many topics to protect against crime. Technical advisors from the prevention departments of the district police authorities offer interested target groups and victims technical advice on burglary protection at community events. Citizens can also turn to their local police station for advice on other areas of crime.

(Text excerpt - Ministry of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia, Department III, as at: 2012)