£131,000 boost to help victims of domestic and sexual crimes VICTIMS of domestic and sexual crimes in Hampshire are set to benefit from a cash boost that will be dedicated to improving services across the county.

Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes has been given a share of a £12m pot of Government money that has been divided up across the country.

Mr Hayes has been awarded just over £131,000 which will go towards specialist services for victims of crime.

These will include services for those suffering from domestic abuse in the Nepalese community and young victims of sexual violence, as well as funding for an independent sexual violence adviser and a support worker for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

The money comes from the victim surcharges and increased financial penalties that offenders are ordered to pay as part of their sentence.

Damian Green, Victims’ Minister, said: “Victims of crime need and deserve the best possible support to cope with what they have been through. That’s why Government is raising more money than ever before from offenders to fund vital services to help victims move on with their lives.

“The excellent and innovative ideas put forward for this fund show exactly why PCCs are best placed to understand the needs of their local communities and commission the majority of victims’ services. I’ve no doubt they will make a difference to victims up and down the country.”