Cameras back crime victims; VIOLENCE: Pictures will be stored as evidence.

Byline: By Alan Harris

VICTIMS of domestic violence and hate crime in Coventry can use cameras to record their injuries to help secure convictions against offenders.

Housing staff are providing the service to vulnerable residents who aren't ready or able to inform the police of their problems.

Instead they can approach a familiar face in a discreet environment to have photographs taken which are stored securely.

The pictures can then be used later if victims want action to be taken against the perpetrator.

The Visual Evidence for Victims (VEV) project is being run by Whitefriars Housing Group in partnership with Victim Support Coventry, the Emergency Department at University Hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry Haven, Terrence Higgins Trust and Coventry Peace House.

Staff at Whitefriars have been trained to use special cameras to enable victims of domestic violence and hate crime to provide evidence of their injuries or damage caused to their property.

Gail Cooper, manager of Whitefriars' asb4 service, which tackles antisocial behaviour and harassment, said: "Sometimes people may be suffering from domestic violence or hate crime but be too scared or not ready to report it.

"Photographs provide much more effective visual evidence of injuries than a future verbal statement and can be used in court, despite the fact that the injuries may have by then disappeared.

"The photographic evidence builds a history of the injuries or damage suffered so when the victim feels ready to formalise their complaint, the VEV evidence supports their statement.

"We are delighted to join with other key partners in the city to offer this service and hope that it offers support to those most in need."

Anyone over 18 can use the service and any images collected are confidential and will be stored securely.

The evidence can be used for supporting any criminal injuries compensation claim, reporting crimes to the police or civil proceedings.

Any photographs, which can be destroyed upon request, will be kept securely for six years.

The VEV Project is funded by The Coventry Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership, Coventry Partnership and West Midlands Police.

Anyone who would like any injuries photographed can call into any Whitefriars office across the city, or call Joanna Henderson, Whitefriars' hate crime and domestic violence officer, on 024 7649 6729.

CAPTION(S):

GETTING PROOF .. Sarah Curtis (left) of Victim Support and Joanna Henderson of Whitefriars' asb4 team with the camera.