Police recognise work of victim support volunteer
It’s a first for one of our many unsung heroes and Lynette Macdonald is chuffed.
In a first for someone in her line of work Whangarei volunteer Lynette Macdonald was honoured today at a special police awards ceremony by deputy commissioner, Viv Rickard and acting Northland area commander, Justin Rogers.
Viv Rickard presented a certificate of appreciation recognising her work in the north specifically within the court process to MacDonald in front of volunteers, court staff and police officers at the Whangarei police station.
Victim support is integrated with the police, however, this is the first time the work of a victim support volunteer has been recognised with a police award, Rickard said.
Lynette has been a volunteer with victim support for 14 years working with victims of crime. Her work has seen her assist a range of victims from burglary through to homicide. She is often on hand at all hours of the night working with police and victims in crisis and assisting families through trials at the courts.
Rogers said victims were at the forefront of everything the police did.
“Lynette works extremely closely with all our victims…it is work like this that needs to be recognised by not only the police but by the wider justice system,” Rogers said.
Lynette recently assisted police and the courts in providing exceptional support to a fragile young witness who was the key victim in a jury trial. She spent a weekend intervention with the victim supporting her when it was feared she would abscond, affecting the outcome of the trial.
“I think the biggest satisfaction out of this job is helping victims through the court process, especially giving evidence. Seeing the change in victims before and after giving evidence and walking alongside them on their journey is truly special,” Macdonald said.
Victim support is a volunteer service providing support to victims of crime and trauma 24-hours a day during what may be the worst time in their life.
