Helpline for victims
Nearly 2,500 people have called the Justice Department and Red Cross helpline for victims of crime in one year
Salvador Lopez is director of a restaurant in Barcelona’s Rambla, and on August 17 last year during the terrorist attack, he did not hesitate. “I went to help people, and we told everyone we could to come and take refuge in the restaurant,” says Lopez, aged 40. In the course of his unthinking and spontaneous response, he broke his foot and was off work for two months. At the hospital he was given the number of the helpline for victims of crime. He did not want psychological help, but “later I saw that I needed it and it has helped a lot. I do not feel I am alone,” Lopez gratefully admits.
Sílvia Laghmich is one of the operators who from the headquarters of the Red Cross, runs the helpline which is operating since 2015 set up by the Department of Justice to tend to victims of crime, from those who have suffered from theft to rape.
“Most of the callers are referred to us by the Mossos, especially with doubts as to what to do because they have suffered a theft or an accident and do not know where they have to report it. Some people are just blocked,” says Sílvia. Often, as in the case of Salvador López, it means finding the most relevant form of support, which turned out to be legal support and psychological assistance. In the first year of hotline operation, Sílvia, along with her colleagues also assists tourists, mostly in English, who have been robbed or have problems. And then there are even locals who have heard on the news of a gang of thieves being arrested who are wanting to know if it is possible their treasured belongings have finally been located.
With a total of 2,453 inquiries received in the first year, the general director of the Criminal Justice and Juvenile Justice Community, Pilar Heras, validates the effectiveness of this service and is grateful for the help of the Red Cross organisation.
The annual cost is about €232,000 a year, with women being the main users of the helpline (60%), and in most cases lodging a complaint (47%). Thefts and robberies (43%) are followed by crimes of violence (12.5%) and domestic violence (10.4%).