The SAPS on victim empowerment programme #16DaysOfActivism
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Service explained that the four basic elements of victim empowerment are emotional support, practical support, providing information and referral to professional support services.
The SAPS said it was committed to improving its services to the victims of crime at all police stations and relevant units.
“The privacy of a victim must be protected by interviewing the victim in private, either in a victim-friendly room [VFR] situated at the police station or in the absence of a VFR, in an alternative room at the police station where a victim can be interviewed in private. This service must be offered to a victim in order to protect the victim’s right to privacy,” said SAPS
SAPS said victims of crime, especially sexual offences, and other serious and violent crimes, have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, dignity and in private when reporting a crime. Victims have the right to a victim-friendly service.
What is a victim-friendly service?
SAPS explained that this was a service where the dignity and rights of victims were protected, and the victim was empowered and not subjected to secondary victimisation by the inefficiency of the members of the criminal justice system.
“The four basic elements of victim empowerment are emotional support, practical support, providing information and referral to professional support services,” said SAPS.
SAPS said victims of crime have the following rights:
- The right to be treated with respect and dignity
- The right to offer information
- The right to receive information
- The right to legal advice
- The right to protection
- The right to assistance
- The right to compensation.
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