Victims of crime are being offered support by a new specialised police unit.

The Victim Support Unit, headed by Insp. Sylvana Gafa, is geared to help those who pass through traumatic experiences linked to crimes and deal with the issues that may arise from such experiences.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said the unit, made up of a staff of four, had already assisted a number of victims of crime and was also assisting officers.

Police officers, he said, were often the first responders, arriving at crime scenes and being the first people to find victims of crime.

It was important therefore that these first responders were given the necessary training and were aware of the rights and needs of victims.

Insp. Gafa said the unit would be providing training to the police corps, working closely with police stations which are a focal point for victims. Police were already receiving training on how to help particularly vulnerable victims, including minors, and this would be a continuous process.

An officer also trained in counselling, Insp Gafa said she had a good working relationship with NGOs which offered support services.

Why else support victims? She rhetorically asked the gathering of officers, because information gathered from them can prove essential during investigations.