Woollen comfort dolls knitted by women in Brackenfell will bring comfort to victims of crime during a time it is most needed.
Within 72 hours of a crime being committed the police’s victim support unit springs into action to debrief a victim. The unit focuses on providing debriefing, emotional and practical support to victims after a crime.
“The hand-size dolls serve as a great stress reliever to victims especially while having to relay traumatising events that happened. We give these comfort dolls or balls to adults and children to hold while we talk to them to help them open up about traumatic events,” says police spokesperson Capt Erica Crous.
A bagful of comfort dolls knitted by the knitting club in Ferndale was donated by the police last week, during a Children’s Week safety campaign in the suburb.
Police visited the group to explain the significance of the police’s victim support unit. Any victim of any crime has the right to receive victim support from the police.
“After the initial debriefing session, victims if needed are referred to social services or professional counsellors on our volunteer network,” says Crous.
Some of the dolls will also be given to the sexual offences court in Blue Downs to be used at their victim friendly facility.
