Police chiefs, charity representatives and politicians celebrated the official launch of a new victim support centre this morning.

Compass House, in Tufton Street, Ashford is an ex-Magistrates courthouse that has been transformed into a support centre for victims and witnesses of crime - the first of it's kind in the country.

It it primarily run by charity Victim Support but will incorporate other services - many voluntary - such as East Kent Rape Line and Family Matters.

Although based in Ashford, the centre will support victims from all over Kent.

Ann Barnes, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, welcomed top representatives to the launch, including Alan Pughsley, Chief Constable of Kent Police, Baroness Helen Newlove, victims’ commissioner for England and Wales and Mark Castle, Chief Executive Officer of Victim Support.

Mrs Barnes said: "When you are a victim of crime you are a victim twice. You’re a victim of the crime and you are a victim of the criminal justice system.

"I’m really worried that these victims and witnesses of crime tend to be the Cinderellas of the justice system. They’re the last people that people think about but they should be the first.

"Compass House is a place where trained staff and volunteers from the independent charity Victim Support now work under the same roof as the Kent Police Witness Care Unit.

"More victims of crime are being offered help, from rape victims to people who have suffered low-level criminal damage or bicycle theft."

The centre has been funded by an £829,000 contract granted to Police Crime Commissioners by the Ministry of Justice.

Alan Pughsley, Kent Police Chief Constable, said: "This is the first of a massive step forward for the best treatment of victims of the criminal justice system.

"It is the first step in a long journey. The aspiration has to be about working even more closely with our criminal justice partners so that all the different elements and stages through the victims journey are as seamless, joined up and painless as they possibly can be."

Over 50 representatives attended the launch this morning from charities, support services and the police. Among them was Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove.

The Victims Commissioner came to prominence in 2007 after her husband was punched and kicked to death by gang of youths outside their home.

She gave an emotional speech to guests at Compass House about the failings of the criminal justice system and told the silent room how one day she "woke up a wife, and went to bed a widow.

She said: "This will be the first steps for Kent in putting victims first and I support what Compass House is trying to achieve. But we should recognise that there is more that we can do.

"Victims don't want to be pushed from pillar to post, they want to be helped by people who are patient, knowledgeable and consistent.

"Victims are on the outside of the criminal justice system but this is a very powerful start to changing that."

For more information about Victim Support services, visit their website here.