We offer a free support service for people affected by crime.
You can use this service if you are:
- under the age of 18
- a victim of domestic abuse, hate crime, sexual crime or stalking
- involved in a trial with a jury
- a family member (next of kin) in a death enquiry
How we can help you
General information
We're here to help you understand how the Scottish criminal justice system works. We'll tell you what you can expect at each stage of the process.
We can also let you know how things are going with your case. This includes things like:
- hearing dates
- bail decisions
- verdicts and sentences
- why no proceedings are being taken
| Company | Contact | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Alfreds Futterkiste | Maria Anders | Germany |
| Centro comercial Moctezuma | Francisco Chang | Mexico |
| Ernst Handel | Roland Mendel | Austria |
| Island Trading | Helen Bennett | UK |
| Laughing Bacchus Winecellars | Yoshi Tannamuri | Canada |
| Magazzini Alimentari Riuniti | Giovanni Rovelli | Italy |
Support in court
We can help organise extra support for you in court, for example if you have to give evidence or make a victim impact statement.
We can also help arrange a visit to court so that you know what to expect if your case goes to trial.
Referrals to other support services
We can put you in touch with other services that can offer practical and emotional support.
You can also find a list of these on our Victim support organisations page.
What we can't help with
VIA staff are not lawyers and cannot decide or influence what happens in a case.
Get in touch
By phone
Call: 0300 020 3000
RNID Typetalk: 18001 0300 020 3000
Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
Rates for mobile phones may vary by provider.
By email
Email us at enquirypoint@copfs.gov.uk.
By text
If you are deaf or hearing-impaired you can text us on 07825 280346.
Please tell us if you would like your reply by SMS, text or email.
By relay service
You can contact us via the Contact Scotland BSL video relay service.
If you're using a computer
You can access the Contact Scotland BSL service here.
If you're using a mobile device or tablet
You need to register for the free Contact Scotland BSL app first.
For more information visit the Contact Scotland BSL website or call 0333 344 7712.