Rights behind bars: Access to justice for victims of violent crime suffered in pre-trial or immigration detention Recommendations Victim Support Services Public Authorities • Recognise detainees victimisation. as a group at risk of • Establish Victim Support Services if they do not already exist, in line with the requirements of the 2012 Directive. • Provide Victim Support Services with sufficient means to help detainees, in particular sufficient staff, budget and access to Detention Centres. • Ensure access to Victim Support Services is available to all victims regardless of their immigration status, as required by EU law. • Ensure the independence of Victim Support Services from Law Enforcement Authorities. • Inform detainees of their rights as victims, including on access to Victim Support Services. • Ensure training to all authorities that may come into contact with victims of crime in detention, including on the availability of Victim Support Services.140 • Recognise detainees as a group at risk of victimisation. • Be proactive in Detention Centres. Victim Support Services should overcome the organic separation between support services for victims and other services working with detainees. • Provide information on Victims’ Rights in Detention Centres. Coordinate with bar associations, legal aid boards and NGOs to organise the dissemination of information on Victims’ Rights in detention, including the organisation of Victim Support Services’ “desks” or regular visits to Detention Centres. • Provide training to Detention Staff and other Detention Practitioners on the role of Victim Support Services, on identifying victimisation situations and risks of repeat victimisation, and on reacting accordingly. • Create a hotline for detainees in particular where the possibility of visiting Detention Centres is restricted or limited.141 Law Enforcement Authorities • With the victim’s consent, directly contact Victim Support Services, in the case of detained victims (in addition to referring victims to Victim Support Services) to increase the possibility that this isolated group of victims will receive support. 140 European Commission guidance document related to the transposition and implementation of the 2012 Directive, p. 27, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/13_12_19_3763804_guidance_victims_rights_directive_eu_en.pdf. 141 European Commission guidance document related to the transposition and implementation of the 2012 Directive, pp. 26-27, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/13_12_19_3763804_guidance_victims_rights_directive_eu_en.pdf. 49