MAGE pride themselves in their unrivalled approach to victim engagement leading the way on victim focused investigations and strategy. Successful outcomes can often fail due to victim testimony challenges and unsuccessful engagement leading to minimal sentencing or in worst case scenario, not reaching any judicial process at all. Investigations are often faced with victim reluctance or non-identification. MAGE believe the key to success is to use intelligence and information to identify their vulnerabilities and route into exploitative environments, and to develop bespoke structured engagement strategies which are unique to the individual. MAGE experts have the skills to advocate on risk management, safeguarding referral pathways, victim code compliance, overarching victim management strategies and victim recovery including reception centre management.

Course Aim

Through audio visual material, case studies and interactive sessions MAGE will equip you with understanding of victim presentation and the reasons and challenges for non-engagement including grooming, trauma, and cultural nuances. To maximise safeguarding opportunities, you will be given the tools to develop effective victim strategies and bespoke engagement plans. You will learn how to plan and prepare for safeguarding visits or warrants where victims may be encountered. The course will include practical examples and interactive scenario-based exercises of how to implement the strategies advocated. MAGE will prepare you to fully understand how this approach affords you opportunities to glean evidential accounts.

As part of the victim process you will be given an overview of the legal framework for interviewing and special measures. The importance of pre-planning and strategies for rapport, language, question styles and techniques and the effect of trauma on memory. You will understand the dynamic and long-term pathway support available to victims through the national referral mechanism (NRM), from other agencies, and from NGOís .