A NEW service which helps young victims of crime recover from their ordeal could be rolled out across Cheshire.

Got Your Back offers support to victims of crime under the age of 18 in Halton whether they’ve reported the crime to the police or not.

Referrals to the service come through the police and partner agencies and it also helps young people who seek support on social media.

The service, commissioned by Cheshire police and crime commissioner, started in January and has already supported 18 young people across Runcorn and Halton through bespoke one-to-one support sessions.

The service works with young people to look at how they can put their experiences behind them. Together, a plan is formulated to establish who can support them. Some people may wish to feel safer or more confident since the crime against them happened.

A regular review of progress is carried out to ensure that the young person is feeling more able to cope and recover.

Mr Keane said: “It’s fantastic to see the difference Got Your Back is already making to young people in Halton. I’d like to see similar services rolled-out across the whole of Cheshire to ensure our young people have access to the right support if they have been a victim of crime.”

Got Your Back is delivered by charity, Remedi, who also deliver restorative justice services throughout the whole of Cheshire.

Remedi was one of four organisations successful in its bid to the Commissioner’s Supporting Victims Fund, which funds projects which specifically support victims of crime under the age of 18.

Lisa Gill, manager at Remedi, added: “The Got Your Back service is extremely successful in other areas of the country to help young people feel safe and move on from a crime that has been committed against them.

“We are pleased that our partner agencies are referring people to the service and we are also receiving calls from parents who want to help their loved one feel more able to cope."