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Posted: Sat 26th Jul 2025
Updated: Sat 26th Jul
The North Wales Victim Help Centre, which provides specialist support to victims and witnesses of crime, marked its tenth anniversary on Wednesday 23 July.
Delivered by the independent charity Victim Support and funded by Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, the centre has helped around 250,000 people affected by crime and traumatic incidents since opening in 2015.
The anniversary event was attended by Mr Dunbobbin, his Deputy PCC Wayne Jones, alongside Victim Support staff and volunteers, who were thanked for their commitment to supporting local victims.
The centre offers free, confidential support to anyone affected by crime, including specialist services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, fraud, modern slavery, exploitation, and for children and young people.
Victim Support’s caseworkers and volunteers provide practical and emotional assistance to help victims cope, recover, and rebuild their lives.
Support is available regardless of whether a crime has been reported to the police. Services are tailored to individual needs and include bilingual Welsh support and interpretation.
Based in St Asaph, the centre has adapted over the past decade to meet changing crime patterns and reach marginalised communities. This includes supporting families affected by the 2017 Manchester arena attack, employing the UK’s first dedicated caseworker for modern slavery victims, and recently adding a caseworker for children and young people.
Jessica Brookes, Area Manager for Victim Support Wales, said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating a decade of specialist, tailored support for victims across North Wales, helping them to cope, recover and rebuild their lives after crime. Over the last ten years, we have worked closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner, and other local services, to ensure our support is constantly evolving and adapting to meet the needs of local people. We look forward to continuing to deliver the best possible support for victims.”
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, said: “I am delighted to congratulate the Victim Help Centre in St Asaph on a decade of dedicated service to the people of North Wales. It is a provision I am proud to fund on behalf of residents and it is one that previous Police and Crime Commissioners have strongly supported since it began in 2015.
“One of my key priorities as Police and Crime Commissioner is supporting victims, communities and businesses, and wherever I go across North Wales I meet people who have benefited from the advice the centre offers. No one wants, or asks, to become a victim of crime. But if this happens, then it is vital that in addition to contacting the Police, people are able to turn to services like the Victim Help Centre to get the guidance needed to help them deal with what might have happened to them.
“Additionally, the way the centre has adapted its service model, and the support offered, to reflect the changing nature of crime is important to recognise. From the introduction of a modern slavery case worker to one dedicated to children and young people, and support for those who have experienced romance and other forms of fraud. The breadth and depth of the staff’s experience and knowledge at the centre is impressive to behold.
“I would like to thank all colleagues, past and present, at the Victim Help Centre and at Victim Support who have contributed to reaching this milestone. I wish them continued success in the future on behalf of the people of North Wales.”
The North Wales Victim Help Centre offers free, confidential support to anyone affected by crime. For more information, visit www.victimsupport.org.uk/north-wales or call 0300 303 0159.
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