A new service to support victims and witnesses of crime has been launched. Mayors across Kent and more than 90 staff and volunteers from the Criminal Justice System celebrated the launch of Victim Support Plus at County Hall in Maidstone.

It will replace Victim Support Kent which helped 28,897 victims of crime and supported 14,859 witnesses attending court between April 2007 and March 2008.

Trained staff will telephone every victim referred to them by the police or other agencies.

Sarah Billiald, a member of the Kent Criminal Justice Board, who supports the move, said: “This new system will focus on the needs of the victims and support the diverse communities across the county. By offering the best support possible to victims and witnesses we will also be able to bring offenders to justice.”

Pictured above, left to right, are Jimmy Kemp, Escort of Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling; Barbarra Cobbold, Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, John Morris, Mayor of Swale; Ann Jackson, Chair of Victim Support Kent; Ann Kemp, Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling; Alison Cook, Vice Chair of Sevenoaks District; Christine Ash, Mayoress of Maidstone and District and Richard Ash, Mayor of Maidstone and District.