The government has significantly reduced funding for services that support victims of crime, raising concerns that criminals will not be held accountable if the situation is not urgently addressed. The Victims’ Commissioner has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning that a combination of funding cuts and the upcoming increase in employers’ national insurance contributions is creating an existential crisis for charities in the sector. The commissioner and charities are calling for an urgent funding increase in the next spending review.

These services are vital for ensuring that victims receive the support they need to recover from crime and remain engaged in the justice process. Without this support, the effectiveness of prosecutions could be compromised, allowing criminals to go unpunished and potentially leading to further offending. Rape Crisis England and Wales have already closed two of their centers, and Victim Support estimates it will have to let go of over 80 staff members and reduce its support to 5,000 fewer people annually.

The cuts are also undermining Labour’s manifesto pledge to reduce violence against women and girls. The Victims’ Commissioner warns that victims trapped in record court backlogs may not have the resilience to continue without support, and some may not report offenses at all.

Charities supporting victims of rape and domestic abuse are facing funding reductions despite the government’s commitment to protect them. The Ministry of Justice informed police and crime commissioners that the core grant for victims’ services will decrease by 4.2% in April. The rise in national insurance, combined with the cuts, will result in a £3.5m loss in the next financial year, equating to the loss of 84 full-time positions and support for 5,000 fewer victims.

The Home Office has also discontinued a separate fund for violence against women and girls, which began in 2022, stating that they need to prioritize within a limited budget. This fund was crucial for organizations such as the Jewish Sexual Abuse Support charity, which may now need to cut trained advisers who support victims through court cases.

Erica Marks, the CEO of Jewish Sexual Abuse Support, argues that successive governments have failed to back their pledges to tackle sexual abuse with adequate funding and questions the discrepancy between claiming to prioritize violence against women and girls while simultaneously cutting vital funding.

The Rape Crisis charity has also experienced significant challenges, with two centers shut down due to underfunding, and others reducing their services. They emphasize the importance of these services as an entry point to the criminal justice system. The loss of these services could result in victims being unable to disclose abuse.

While some funding for domestic abuse and sexual violence support has been protected, police and crime commissioners are grappling with the reduction in their core victim services grant. Many commissioners are trying to mitigate the cuts using separate budgets, but a national decline in central government funding for victims of crime is projected.

Victim Support CEO Katie Kempen warns of a “perfect storm” as more people require support due to extended court case wait times. The charity has “nothing left to trim” and will have to reduce staff and services. They urge the government to reverse the cuts and increase funding to cover the national insurance increase.

Despite the concerns raised, a government spokesperson asserts the commitment to halve violence against women and girls by bolstering policing and providing over £190m in support for victim support organizations. They highlight various initiatives aimed at protecting victims, supporting their justice journey, and holding perpetrators accountable.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/02/criminals-unpunished-victim-services-cuts-reeves