Victim Not Suspect

Useful Links

Directory · 34 resources

Useful Links

Charities, legal organisations, campaign groups, research and official bodies. Organised by what you need. VNS does not endorse any specific legal provider and cannot give legal advice.

Stalking and harassment

If you are in immediate danger call 999. These services provide confidential support.

  • Suzy Lamplugh Trust

    National stalking awareness charity. Operates the National Stalking Helpline, delivers DASH risk assessment training, and submitted the landmark 2022 super-complaint on police response to stalking.

  • Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service

    Specialist national charity providing accredited Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers for high-risk victims of stalking in England and Wales. Founded by Laura Richards in 2013.

  • Protection Against Stalking

    Kent-based charity providing direct support to stalking victims and advocating for legal reform.

  • SafeLives DASH Risk Checklist

    The risk assessment tool used by police, DA services and MARACs in England and Wales to identify domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence risk.

  • Action Against Stalking

    Scottish charity providing support and advocacy for stalking victims. UK-wide policy work.

  • HASSL

    UK social-impact organisation founded by Amy Watson focused on women's safety. Publishes free resources, bystander training and campaigns for systemic change on harassment and stalking.

Domestic abuse

  • Women's Aid

    Federation of around 180 organisations providing over 300 local services for women and children affected by domestic abuse.

  • Refuge

    Largest UK provider of specialist DA services. Runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) 24/7.

  • Victim Support

    Independent charity for victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. 24/7 Supportline.

  • SafeLives

    UK-wide DA charity. Research, training and the MARAC quality standards used by multi-agency risk conferences.

  • Leeway

    Norfolk and Suffolk DA charity providing refuge, outreach and specialist services.

  • Galop

    UK LGBT+ anti-abuse charity supporting victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and so-called conversion practices.

  • SurvivorsUK

    Support for men, boys and non-binary people who have experienced sexual violence.

Research and evidence

  • Digital Forensics in the CJS

    The 2024 Northumbria University study on digital forensics across the criminal justice system. The most comprehensive research to date on device seizure, extraction and evidence handling failures.

  • Stalking super-complaint

    The full published report, all 29 recommendations, and every force action plan from the HMICFRS, IOPC and College of Policing investigation. Published September 2024.

  • DARVO - Jennifer Freyd

    Professor Jennifer Freyd coined the term DARVO in 1997. Original research, subsequent studies, and resources for practitioners and researchers.

  • Centre for Women's Justice - Double Standard

    The 2022 report documenting how victims of violence against women and girls are wrongly arrested, prosecuted and convicted in relation to offences arising from their experience of abuse.

  • The Right Words Project

    Global movement to change how abuse is reported. Naming the crime, pointing out the person who caused harm, and rewriting the institutional and media story.

  • IOPC - Ending victim-blaming

    The March 2024 IOPC guidance on victim-blaming language in the context of violence against women and girls. Endorsed by NPCC. Shared with all 43 forces.

  • Lynn & Canning (2021)

    Additions, omissions and transformations in institutional retellings of domestic violence. Foundational academic study on victim-blaming language in MG3 forms, published in Language and Law / Linguagem e Direito.

Oversight and official bodies

  • Independent Office for Police Conduct

    The independent body overseeing the police complaints system in England and Wales. The first point of escalation after a force's Professional Standards Department.

  • HMICFRS

    His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. Inspects all police forces in England and Wales. PEEL assessments are published here.

  • CPS Victims' Right to Review

    If the CPS has decided not to charge or has stopped a prosecution, you may be able to request a review of that decision. The VRR scheme covers CPS charging decisions, not police disposal decisions.

  • Find your MP

    Your MP can raise concerns with the IOPC, Home Office and Ministry of Justice, and table parliamentary questions to force public answers on systemic failures.

  • Find your Police and Crime Commissioner

    PCCs oversee force complaint handling and can raise systemic concerns directly with Chief Constables. PCCs will be abolished in 2028 and replaced by Policing and Crime Boards or mayoral structures.

  • Victims' Commissioner

    The national Victims' Commissioner champions the rights of victims and witnesses and holds government and the criminal justice system to account. Claire Waxman OBE was appointed January 2026.

Tools and legal reference

  • WhatDoTheyKnow

    Free platform for making Freedom of Information requests to UK public bodies. All requests and responses are published publicly, building a searchable national record.

  • PACE Code C 2023

    The Police and Criminal Evidence Act Code of Practice governing the detention, treatment and questioning of people in custody. Your rights when arrested, including the appropriate adult entitlement.

  • Information Commissioner's Office

    If a public body has failed to respond to a Freedom of Information request within the legal timeframe, or has refused unreasonably, you can complain to the ICO.

VNS is not a legal organisation and cannot provide legal advice. External links are provided for information; VNS is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party sites.