Crime is a misfortune that anyone can suffer. Anyone can become a victim of crime and, as such a victim, deserves to be treated with respect and sympathy. The effects of crime are many – they may be physical, psychological, behavioural or financial, as well as having practical consequences.

Different people react to crime in different ways, with reactions varying according to the nature of the crime and the circumstances in which it occurred. One of the main reasons why crime may be particularly difficult for victims to cope with is that it has been deliberately caused by another person who has wilfully intruded into the victim’s life.

Although most victims do not suffer long-term harm, both adults and children certainly can do. For example, for one person, the effects of a burglary may be no more than the practical inconvenience of notifying the police and completing insurance forms. However, another victim may feel that his or her safety has been seriously put at risk.

A stranger has deliberately intruded into one’s personal life and there may be a fear that this can happen again. Crime can cause considerable financial hardship and some items stolen may be irreplaceable, such as possessions of sentimental value.

People who have been victims of crime may need practical information regarding the criminal justice system and other issues regarding this experience, advice, or simply someone to talk to in confidence. And this is what we offer. The Criminal Justice Bureau is a relatively new arrival on the criminal justice scene. It is a centre for victims of criminal offences which offers support, and information and independent, confidential, impartial and professional help.

The function of the Criminal Justice Bureau is to develop victim services and ensure equal access to these services; advocate adequate protection of victims against intimidation and retaliation; identify and monitor the needs of those who directly or indirectly become victims of crime; recognise the need of victims for timely investigation and prosecution of offences; advise victims of their rights and responsibilities; guide such victims in their dealings with the judicial system and show them how to obtain therapeutic services; and provide information on the structure and operation of the criminal justice system.

To put it succinctly, in contributing to the fight against crime, the Criminal Justice Bureau makes economical use of the judicial and penal resources of the country, and offers independent, confidential and impartial services by establishing an information network. It advocates the improvement of judicial, penal and therapeutic services and orientates actual and potential victims of crime within the criminal justice system.

In June last year the Criminal Justice Bureau began offering its services to the public and in May this year, it was accepted as a full member of the European Forum for Victim Services. This forum was founded in 1990 by the national organisations in Europe that work for victims of crime.

It is in consultation with the Council of Europe and the UN and its main goals are to promote effective and efficient victim services throughout Europe, to promote fair and equal compensation to victims regardless of their nationality, to promote victims’ rights and their involvement within the criminal justice system and to exchange experience and information so as to better the services offered throughout Europe.

As the first, and only, organisation in Malta to offer a service to victims of crime, the Criminal Justice Bureau has to ensure that these standards are implemented in our country. Although there have previously been agencies that developed some kind of structure to offer victim services, the Criminal Justice Bureau is the first national organisation that takes full responsibility for victims of crime.

The situation at present is that the rights of victims of crime in Malta have not yet been institutionally or officially recognised. Their needs and rights are, and have always been, largely neglected. The only interest in victims of crime taken by the criminal justice system was for them to act as witnesses in court. It is sad that in Malta these rights are not being respected, because it adds to the feelings of the victim that he or she has been forgotten at this time of need.

All victims should be treated with due respect by virtue of what they have gone through. We believe that we can help, even if it is just by merely listening to a victim’s concerns. Being a professional service to all victims of crime, we can understand what the victim is going through, which makes us capable of helping.

People, who need help in coping with crime, even if it has not yet been reported to the police, can contact the Criminal Justice Bureau for emotional support and practical assistance. Our contact telephone numbers are 2122-8333 or 797-4314 (2122-8334 fax). Additional information is also available from the Bureau’s website www.victimsupportmalta.org

Anyone who needs to contact us can also do so by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

Maria Cassar is coordinator of the Criminal Justice Bureau