The Strengthening Safety Service has helped 2637 victims of family violence and their families since it was introduced in October 2014.

The free service involves approved providers identifying victims' needs via phone or face-to-face meetings to help them plan how to deal with risks, while providing safety support, information, and connections to other services.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the Strengthening Safety Service has helped 2637 victims of family violence and their families. File Photo.

'The Strengthening Safety Service provides immediate help in safety planning for victims of family violence who do not have a protection order,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

'When victims of family violence have a matter before the court they're likely to be at their most vulnerable. Access to safety services can help keep them and their children safe, and in the last 12 months alone, it has helped 1343 New Zealanders.”

The Strengthening Safety Service is offered to adult victims where a domestic violence related charge has been laid in the criminal court, and adults who apply for protection orders where the application has been made, but the order has not yet been granted by the Family Court.

It has two components – ‘needs identification' and ‘first aid safety advice' and safety planning – and the victim is able to access one or both components of the service.

The service also includes a detailed risk assessment and support in preparing a safety plan for themselves and their children.

But the service is not intended to replace the benefits of protection orders under which the courts can hold perpetrators to account for their behaviours and which include access to a full safety programme.

'Putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system reduces the impact domestic violence has on individuals, families and communities,” says Amy.

Other initiatives designed to better support victims of crime include the National Home Safety Service launched in July 2015, the Victims Code in September 2015, the enhanced Victims Information Service from October 2015, and the Chief Victims Advisor in November 2015.