COPING with crime worries could become harder in Worcestershire with the threat of Government cuts clouding the future of Victim Support.

For the first time ever, the national charity's chief executive, Dame Helen Reeves, turned down the Home Office's offer of £30m, which provides roughly 80 per cent of its funding.

The organisation is in talks at the moment in an attempt to secure a better deal.

The charity is now involved in negotiations with Government officials this month. Its previous funding of £29.6m in 2002/3 could now be frozen at the latest figure over the next three years.

Tony Breeze, area manager for Victim Support Worcestershire said with increases in workload and the possible lack of extra funding, it would become harder to provide its free help service for both victims and witnesses in the county.

"Our workload is continuously increasing, especially with more work involving the victims and witnesses of violent and serious crime," he said. "Unless the Government increases our national grant or we find extra funds we could well be forced in a year or two to restructure our whole service.

"This could result in redundancies and would definitely result in a reduced service to the victims and witnesses of crime in this county."

The Worcestershire branch operates on a budget of £220,000, but needs to find a further £30,000 from fund-raising and Local Authorities.

Legislation

Its 135-strong staff consists of six full and eight part time members and 120 volunteers, providing help in a range of areas, including three magistrate courts and Worcester Crown Court.

Extra pressures have been brought on to the service from an increase in claims in criminal injury compensation, an area where there is currently no legal aid.

"Nationally, we dealt with 14,000 claims. In Worcester alone, it was in excess of 400," said Mr Breeze.

Dealing with the victims of drug-related crime and aiming to provide help, under new legislation, to all victims and witnesses of serious crime has also added to the charity's increasingly hectic workload.