A CHARITY helping victims of crime has revealed radical changes to improve its services.

Victim Support Essex helps crime victims across south Essex and supports witnesses appearing in the area's courts.

It is one of 90 local sections of the charity across England and Wales, with its own board of trustees.

But in the next 18 months it is hoped a national charity will replace individual ones, making the decision process faster and simplifying the way the organisation works.

The move coincides with plans to overhaul the service. Victims will receive a phone call within 48 hours of a crime to ask how they are coping, instead of a letter.

There will also be more money and help available for practical issues, such as repairing criminal damage and replacing stolen items.

Paul Fawcett, head of marketing and communications for Victim Support, said: "We don't want to lose our local volunteers because they give us the connections with the victims who we help.

"In the next 18 months to two years we hope people will start to notice the difference in the service.

"With phone calls instead of letters, we can make an assessment over the phone, which allows us to dedicate the time and help to people.

"To make decisions on a democratic basis at the moment can take up to a year because of proposals, consultations and so on."