If you or a close relative of yours are the victim of a crime, you may be entitled to legal representation, known as counsel for the injured party. If you are the victim of a serious offence or an offence of a certain kind, you have the right to be represented by counsel paid for by the state. The police investigating the offence should ask you whether you wish to be represented in this way, but you are also welcome to telephone us to ask whether you could be entitled to counsel.
If you are the victim of what the law classes as a less serious offence, you will not always be entitled to counsel paid for from state funds, but you can always instruct a lawyer to represent you on a private basis.