Czech police's aid programme helps 1540 crime victims

Prague, Aug 16 (CTK) - The aid programme for crime victims provided by the Czech police and the White Circle of Safety organisation has helped 1540 persons so far, Police Presidium spokesman Jan Melsa writes on the police website Tuesday.

Within the programme, mostly surviving relatives of suicides, crime and accident victims, and rape and robbery victims were helped by police psychologists and specially trained police officers.

The police introduced the programme in July 2010 and the NGO, which focuses on legal, social and psychological counselling, joined it last August.

The police now has 27 instructors and 206 crisis intervention officers who can provide the help.

Melsa said an operation centre employee calls a psychologist or specially trained policeman if a victim or survivor may need them urgently. The police also offer the services of the White Circle of Safety to the victims.

The programme makes legal and psychological aid more easily accessible to crime victims and their families. The victims are often in a bad condition preventing them from arranging any aid on their own.

About 17,000 violent crimes and breeches of morality are annually committed in the 10.5-million Czech Republic. The police should cooperate with the NGO only in the cases of the most serious crimes.