Integrated Victims and Witnesses Service

Tender description

MOPAC wishes to invite Tenders to bid for the Integrated Victims and Witnesses Service (IVWS), the objectives of which are to support victims of crime to cope and recover; and to provide support to witnesses to give their best evidence. The range of support will include: - Support for adult victims of crime - Specialist support for victims and survivors of domestic violence - Access to Restorative Justice - Pre-trial support for witnesses - Support for victims and witnesses of major crime incidents The service will be a Pan-London service available across the 32 London boroughs and the City of London. Bidder must be able to demonstrate that they have delivered similar services There may also be a further requirement to provide support to children affected by domestic abuse. The funding available for this element of the service is up to a maximum of £2,032,700 in the first year of the contract only, and this amount is included within the total contract value. However, the funding for this has not yet been confirmed so it remains an indicative requirement only. Further information will be published in due course when it becomes available. The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://procontract.due-north.com Background The Mayor's Police and Crime Plan, puts victims at the heart of everything MOPAC does and is a golden thread through the plan, making significant commitments regarding the provision of better services and improving the experience of the criminal justice service for victims of crime. Additionally, MOPAC is working to increase support for victims experiencing significant harm, including serious violence, and for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses across London. MOPAC's objective is to improve current provision, and to deliver an integrated, accessible, responsive, quality support offer for: - victims of crime, to aid their ability to cope and recover from the experience and reduce their risk of re-victimisation; and - witnesses, so they are able to attend court and give their best evidence. MOPAC, the Ministry of Justice and London Councils have signed a Memorandum of Understanding relating to justice devolution. This includes commitments relating to the devolution of pre-trial and outreach support for witnesses in London and to cooperation on developing an integrated service delivery model for victims and witnesses in London. The London Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2018-2021 set out commitments to reduce the prevalence and impact of violence against women and girls, through prevention and challenging cultural norms, tackling perpetrators by bringing them to justice and putting interventions in place to address their behaviours, and protecting and supporting victims, including through Independent Domestic Violence Advocate provision across London.