Local software development company, PDMS are delighted to announce that they have been working with PNLD (Police National Legal Database) in the UK to provide the technology for their latest project - an innovative new web service aimed at helping victims and witnesses of crime.
 
The website, aptly named www.helpforvictims.co.uk was launched on Friday 24th October by Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, with an event in Leeds where Baroness Newlove, the UK Government’s Victims’ Commissioner was present to support the launch.  Funded by the Ministry of Justice, it is hoped that the website will be rolled out to other police forces across England and Wales.
 
With the introduction of Help for Victims, individuals in Yorkshire will be able to immediately access all the information contained within the Victims’ Code and the Witness Charter in a question and answer format.  The website also includes individual pages dedicated to over 400 local supporting organisations, which can help with concerns such as cyber bullying or hate crime, with trained advisers on hand to give advice.  Additionally, the website utilises a self-referral service to local organisations who can provide particular specialist victim and witness services beyond the website.
 
Chris Gledhill, Managing Director of PDMS commented, “The new website is an integral part of Mr. Burn-Williamson’s Police and Crime Plan to ensure victims and witnesses in Yorkshire receive high quality support exactly when they need it.  It is the only website of its kind that facilitates all of their local resources, whilst providing one place for clear and concise advice with regards to the criminal justice process and rights from the Victims Code.
 
As well as English, the site has been translated into the five most frequently spoken languages in West Yorkshire - including Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic and Polish, and will shortly be launched in IoS and Android App format too”. 
 
PDMS have been PNLD’s technology partner for over 10 years, helping them provide a range of services to the police and wider criminal justice sector in Yorkshire.  Previous technology projects have included the Police National Statistics Database (PNSD), an internet-based solution allowing Police Forces to comparatively analyse and examine statistics at national and local levels, the ‘Ask the Police’ Portal (www.askthe.police.uk) for the Police Service in England and Wales, which is estimated to save forces over ?25 million per year, and Apple and Android ‘Ask the Police’ apps, which reached over 30,000 downloads shortly after launch.