Our Services
Support When You Need It Most
Experiencing crime or trauma can be overwhelming. You may be dealing with practical concerns, questions about the justice system, safety issues, or simply trying to understand what happens next.
Get Support →How We Help
Short-Term Support, Information & Referrals
Greater Victoria Police Victim Services provides short-term emotional support, practical assistance, information and referrals to individuals impacted by crime and trauma throughout the Greater Victoria region.
Our role is to help you understand your options, connect you with appropriate resources, and provide support as you navigate the next steps.
Emotional & Practical Support
Crime and trauma can affect people in many different ways. Our team provides compassionate, non-judgmental support while helping you identify immediate needs and practical next steps. Support may include helping you understand available options, identifying resources, and connecting you with additional services when longer-term or specialized support is needed.
Safety Planning
If you have concerns about your safety, we can help you consider practical steps and available resources. Safety planning is tailored to your circumstances and may include discussing immediate concerns, identifying supports, and connecting you with police or community resources where appropriate.
Criminal Justice System Information & Support
The criminal justice system can feel complicated, particularly when you are already coping with the impact of a crime or traumatic event. We can provide information to help you better understand the process, including what may happen after a police report, what different stages of the justice system can involve, and where to find additional information or support. Our goal is to help you feel better informed as you move through the process.
Court Support
If a matter proceeds to court, Victim Services can provide information and support to help you understand what to expect. This may include assistance with navigating the court process, understanding procedures and identifying available supports.
Critical Incident Response
GVPVS provides support following serious or unexpected incidents that may have a significant emotional impact on victims, witnesses, families or the broader community. Our team works alongside police and other partners to help affected individuals access timely information, emotional support and appropriate resources.
Information & Referrals
Sometimes the most helpful next step is connecting with another service. GVPVS works closely with police, community-based victim services programs, counselling organizations, health services, support groups and other community resources throughout Greater Victoria. We can help identify services that may be appropriate for your circumstances and connect you with specialized or longer-term support when needed.
Who We Help
Support for Victims, Witnesses and Families
GVPVS supports more than people who have been directly victimized by crime. Our services may be available to:
You do not necessarily need to wait for a police referral before reaching out for support.
Who We Help →People affected by crime or trauma
Witnesses
Immediate family members
People referred by police or community organizations
Members of the public seeking support through self-referral
Our Approach
Client-Centred.
Trauma-Informed.
Every person’s experience is different. GVPVS is committed to providing services that are client-centred and trauma-informed. Our approach is guided by the organization’s values:
Empathy
Providing compassionate, understanding and non-judgmental support.
Service
Providing professional, client-focused assistance.
Integrity
Working ethically, transparently and with respect for confidentiality.
Diversity
Respecting the strengths, experiences and needs of the diverse communities we serve.
Commitment
Supporting the rights of victims and working collaboratively with police and community partners.
Partnerships
Working With Police and Community Partners
GVPVS works in partnership with seven police agencies across the Greater Victoria region and collaborates closely with community-based organizations.
We also provide training, education and information to police partners to strengthen understanding of victim services and support a consistent referral process.
Police & Community Partners →Setting Expectations
What Victim Services Does
and What We Don’t Do
We can help with
Emotional and practical support
Safety planning
Information about the criminal justice system
Court-related information and support
Connections to community services
Help understanding available options and next steps
Victim Services is not
An emergency response service
A replacement for police
A legal service
Long-term counselling or therapy
Next Steps
Need Support?
You do not have to figure out the next steps on your own.
If you have been affected by crime or trauma, you can contact Greater Victoria Police Victim Services or submit a referral through our secure online referral system.
Get Support
Learn more about accessing Victim Services or submit a self-referral.
Get Support / Self-Refer →Police or Community Partner?
Submit a referral for someone who may benefit from Victim Services.
Police / Agency Referral →