Hertfordshire has made a successful bid for more than £220,000 to directly support victims of crime.

Home Office minister Damian Green MP announced a bid for £227,500 for Hertfordshire from the Ministry of Justice has been successful.

Around £120,000 of the money will be used for the development of 'live link' video equipment, which allows witnesses to give evidence during a trial via a live video.

A further £80,000 has been allocated towards the cost of two additional crisis workers at a sexual assault centre and just over £27,000 will go to a domestic abuse support, information and advice project at Herts Women’s Centre, based in Stevenage.

Chief Superintendent Jane Swinburne, head of criminal justice and custody at Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: “We are delighted that this bid has been successful. One of the aims of Hertfordshire’s Criminal Justice Board is to improve victim and witness satisfaction with the service provided by the police and other criminal justice agencies, including the CPS and the courts.

“This funding will go a long way towards giving victims the support they need and deserve.”