A CHARITY working to support victims of crime has received the Royal seal of approval.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, as Patron of the Restorative Justice Council, visited Victims First Northumbria to present the charity with the Restorative Service Quality Mark Award. While in Northumberland, she spoke to staff at the charity about their work and the support they provide to victims.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, was in attendance during the Royal visit. She said: “This is a fantastic representation of the diligent work carried out by Victims First. The staff fully deserves this recognition and I am honoured to have The Princess Royal here to present it.”

The occasion was marked with a plaque to commemorate the visit which also included Northumbria Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Rachel Bacon, and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear, Mrs Susan M. Winfield, as well as many other esteemed guests.

Assistant Chief Const. for Northumbria Police, Rachel Bacon, said: “We are delighted to have Her Royal Highness here to help us highlight the amazing work Victims First carry out for victims in Northumbria. Each victim is going through their own personal experience and the charity helps get them the support they need to begin their recovery.”

Victims First Northumbria Chief Executive, Ruth Parker, said: “It was such an achievement in the first place to be one of the first victim services in the country to receive this award which recognises the quality of our work.

“For The Princess Royal, to make a special visit to the area to present this has allowed us to showcase our outstanding work and explain how this can change the recovery of victims of crime.”