Victim-Centred Approaches in Policing & Justice

For victims of abuse, violence, and exploitation, the first interaction with the justice system can determine whether they continue to seek help or withdraw entirely. Victim-Centred Approaches in Policing & Justice focuses on how trauma shapes behaviour, disclosure, and engagement, and how compassionate, informed practice leads to safer victims, stronger evidence, and better outcomes for all involved.

Victim-centred practice recognises that trauma fundamentally affects how people think, communicate, and remember. Survivors may present as calm, confused, distressed, angry, or emotionally detached, sometimes within the same interaction. These responses are often misinterpreted as inconsistency, unreliability, or lack of cooperation. This session helps professionals understand that fear, shame, loyalty to the perpetrator, and survival instincts all influence how and when victims disclose information.

A key focus of the training is first-point-of-contact response. Initial interactions shape trust and determine whether a victim feels safe enough to engage further. Tone of voice, body language, and questioning style can either ground a survivor or push them deeper into survival mode. This session explores how small adjustments in communication can significantly improve victim engagement, emotional regulation, and willingness to continue with the process.

Participants gain insight into questioning approaches that support both safeguarding and evidence-gathering. Trauma-informed questioning reduces re-traumatisation while still enabling accurate information to be obtained. Understanding how memory works under stress allows professionals to avoid common pitfalls, such as pressing for linear timelines or immediate clarity when the brain is still in a state of threat response. Compassionate questioning builds rapport, reduces fear, and ultimately strengthens investigations.

The session also addresses the emotional impact of policing and justice work on professionals themselves. Working with trauma-exposed individuals can lead to burnout, frustration, or emotional distancing. By reframing victim behaviour through a trauma-informed lens, professionals often experience reduced conflict, improved confidence, and greater clarity in decision-making. Victim-centred practice benefits not only those seeking help, but the professionals tasked with supporting them.

This training is designed for police forces, PCSOs, RASSO units, CID teams, legal professionals, probation and safeguarding teams, and multi-agency frontline responders. Delivered in a 45-minute session with an interactive exercise, and priced at £375 per session, it offers practical, immediately applicable guidance that aligns safeguarding, investigation, and victim wellbeing.

By the end of the session, participants develop a stronger understanding of how trauma affects reporting and engagement, how to communicate in ways that keep victims safe and supported, and how trust and compassion directly improve outcomes in policing and justice. Victim-centred practice is not a barrier to effective investigation — it is the foundation of it.

Get in touch

For enquiries about trauma-informed training, safeguarding workshops, keynote speaking, or lived-experience sessions, please use the contact form below. We work with police forces, education settings, healthcare services, charities, and organisations across the UK.

Share a brief outline of your requirements and we’ll be in touch to discuss availability, delivery options, and tailored support.