Charity hampered by vetting

A backlog in criminal records checks is causing delays

A Derbyshire charity says delays in background checks by the Criminal Records Bureau are hampering its work.

Derbyshire Victim Support says many of its new volunteers are still waiting to start.

The charity, which has helped more than 7,000 victims of crime in the last 12 months, says people are suffering because of a drop in the number of volunteers.

The records bureau says it is clearing the backlog as quickly as possible.

'Completely alone'

Helen Scatcherd, the charity's area manager, says it is frustrating because she is unable to use all the volunteers who are available.

Victim support was started in the county in 1983, with an average of 75 victims getting counselling from each volunteer every year.

The backlog has caused us immense problems

Helen Scatcherd
Derbyshire Victim Support

"More people are working so they have less time to offer, and the number of referrals were asking each counsellor to handle is rising.

"We have volunteers who are trained in magistrate's court work who unable to start because they haven't got a check back for them."

Sam, a crime victim, says he would have been completely alone without the help of victim support.

"I wouldn't have known about getting compensation if victim support had not helped me," he said.

Ms Scatcherd said: "It has only been since March this year that we have had to use the Criminal Records Bureau for checks, and the backlog has caused us immense problems."