The overall aim of the Victim Impact Box (VIB) toolkit is to provide an interface between the victim and the system. It serves as a multi-functional device for victims, criminal justice officials, victim support service providers, health care professionals, organisations when stalking presents within the workplace, schools, colleges and universities or anywhere else.
Benefits to Victims of Stalking
The toolkit has been developed on the principles of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Self-Help Model of Care. It is intended to be used by the victim in conjunction with guidance and support. The underlying aims of guided self-help is to provide a structured approach to helping victims of stalking adopt a more solution-focussed approach towards the management of their situation.
In addition, the VIB will help you feel more empowered and confident to stand as a witness if your case goes to court.
What you can expect:
It will facilitate the development of increased self-awareness
Logging of information and ongoing incidences
Development of your Safety Action Plan
Skills development: The CBT Self-Help tool will help you remain focussed, encourage new ways of thinking towards a more proactive approach as opposed to feeling helpless and passive or becoming stuck in a victim's role. It will also encourage the adoption of a solution-focussed approach as opposed to reacting to the fear response, thereby reducing the symptoms of impact and the potential of developing PTSD at a later date.
It will help promote the development of problem solving skills, personal responsibility and management of personal information. This will help you in taking back some 'control' which is empowering and motivating.
Help with cognitive reframing of thinking and development of patterns of more helpful behaviours which will help weaken some of the negative thinking patterns that may be keeping you stuck in the passive victim role.
Benefits to the Police
Provides an interface between the system and the victim (it will also be an educational tool for police towards understanding the crime of stalking)
Provides a template to start working with the victim and building a case encouraging a collaborative working relationship
Helps with the identification of early stalking behaviours and the required course-of-conduct
Helps with the identification of developing patterns of behaviour, flags up warning signs and escalation points
Assists with threat assessment and case management
Allows for crucial evidence to be accurately logged in chronological order facilitating cross-referencing
Identifies the impact on the victim and assists with signposting to relevant services
Benefits to Victim Support Services
Support workers will be able to support victims in working with the box, filling in the incident log, helping develop a safety plan, helping with victim impact statement
Identify areas where support for the victim is needed most
Ongoing assessment of the victim's needs
Access and sharing of information of the case as required
Identification and assessment of vulnerability factors
Facilitate the building of a healthy working relationship between you and the victim
Benefits to Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Services
Accurate and chronologically ordered information which can be cross-referenced
Highlight developing patterns of behaviours, warning signs, frequency and victim impact
Cross-referencing with evidence gathered
Highlight victim vulnerabilities
The ready provision of a victim impact statement
Increase your confidence in the victim as a credible witness
To ensure effective use of the VIB, AAS provides training and certification to those who have completed this. Please email us on enquiries@actionagainststalking.org to find out how you can purchase VIB and find out more about the training we provide.