Being a victim of crime, no matter what the offence, can be an extremely distressing experience to say the least.

It can leave people shaking with fear in their own home, too afraid to leave the house, or embarrassed and ashamed.

And everyone reacts differently to crime, depending on the incident, the victim, the support networks they might already have and their life experiences.

The effects sometimes change over time so that while some are able to get on with their lives immediately, for others it can take weeks, months or years to begin to pick up the pieces.

Victim Support does fantastic work in providing both emotional support and practical help.

So to have a dedicated victims’ hub here in Lancashire can only help to make the whole process smoother and easier.

After a personal trauma, there’s nothing worse than having to find help, not knowing where to start, or being passed from pillar to post.

The good thing about this hub is it can be used by victims of all crimes, regardless of whether the incident has been reported to police.

Hopefully, victims will get the support they need, and fast.