More calls to crime victim helpline

CALLS to the National Crime Victims Helpline increased in 2011 by 12 per cent according to the organisation’s annual report published earlier this month.

In all there were 3,253 contacts – 2,868 by phone and 385 by email, text and fax. The report also shows that 67 per cent of the calls were from females and 33 per cent from males.

Most calls made were in relation to assault (36 per cent), followed by sexual violence (17 per cent), and property related crime such as robbery and burglary (14 per cent).

Helpline coordinator Maeve Ryan said the increase in calls for 2011 come as no surprise.

“Thankfully our excellent volunteers were able to deal with the increase in activity,

? she said.

“Coupled with the 3,325 incoming contacts we also made over 3,000 support calls, as follow-up to calls received.

“We found that the main reason people decide to call our helpline was to seek emotional support and secondly to seek information on a range of issues.

“Our volunteers were able to assist people who wished to discuss what happened to them and to describe how the crime has impacted on their lives.

She added: For people who have experienced crime we firstly advise them to contact the Gardaí as the information they provide may not just solve their crime but also provide information that can assist in resolving other crimes or perhaps ensure that some further crime does not occur.

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The National Crime Victims Helpline is designed to provide support for crime victims who are feeling isolated, anxious, angry, sad, nervous or afraid as a result of a crime.

The helpline number is 1850-211407. The number for texts is 085-1337711.