From 1 June 2023, Victim Support Homicide Service will continue to provide valuable support to those who have been bereaved through homicide both in the UK and abroad and will also offer support to these additional groups:

• Eyewitnesses of homicide. An eyewitnesses means an individual who has directly witnessed a homicide or major incident and suffered mental or emotional harm as a result.
• Eyewitnesses to a major incident. A major incident means an incident where a crime causes fatalities which local services are unable to manage and/or where a response is required under one or more of the emergency services’ major incident plans.
• Short-term outreach support for children and young people in the immediate aftermath of a homicide in their community or a major incident (as described above).

Ellen Milazzo, Head of the National Homicide Service at Victim Support said:

“We’re honoured to continue to deliver the National Homicide Service, which provides such vital support to those whose loved ones are killed through murder or manslaughter. We set up the service in 2010 and it has gone from strength to strength ever since. Expanding it to include support for direct eyewitnesses to homicide or a major criminal incident where a person is killed, alongside enhanced support for children and young people, is a brilliant step. These changes will enable us to deliver the best possible service for victims and ensure everyone impacted by homicide gets the help they need.”

Find out more about the National Homicide Service and help available after murder or manslaughter or a major incident.