VICTIMS of crime needing extra help can access a new directory.

Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger has launched the Cleveland Victim Services Directory, with contact details of charities, groups and specialists to support people who have experienced crime or antisocial behaviour.

It is hoped the directory on www.cvsd.co.uk, will help people who are feeling the significant effects of crime, whenever it occurred.

Mr Coppinger has teamed up with Victim Support to develop the website, which features safeguards such as an "exit button" to leave the page quickly, for victims of domestic abuse.

The site also uses Google Translate so the whole website can be changed into different languages if required.

Mr Coppinger said: "Victims of crime can feel the lasting effects long after the offender has been dealt with. It can cause anxiety, financial pressure, fear, and can negatively impact on mental health.

“The advice and support available across Cleveland is second to none, but we needed a directory to bring them all together in one place and the website is a modern way to fill the gap.

“There will continue to be a great deal of work to build on the website throughout 2015, to uphold my commitment of raising awareness of victim’s services across the area”.